As a fan of the books, I was disappointed to see that the director had clearly never read them himself or, indeed, ever been to England, where the story was supposed to have been set. (I say this as the film bears very little resemblance to the book and the scenery is nothing like the English landscape either). This is a perfect example of what happens when the author has no clout in Hollywood and allows a director to simply do whatever they like. Obviously Sergei Budrov thought he understood the book better than the author, so happily stuck two fingers up at the fans and made it up as he went.

HORRIBLE just plain bad. I didn't start with high expectations but that didn't stop me from being severely disappointed. Had I been watching in a theater I would have asked for my money back. Between the predictable story line and the acting seen in a middle school play, I can just ask you to save yourselves the time. I would have stopped maybe ten minuets in but I was with my family so I had to sit through the whole thing. It's so predictable and just so stereotypical of a fantasy movie. The forced love story was just absolute trash. do not watch this movie it is quite possibly one of the worst I have ever seen and iv'e seen Beverly hills Chihuahua

Having just read all thirteen of the Spooks books, and loved every word, I am disappointed in this film version which has been dumbed down in both plot and characterisation. This could have been a brilliant film, showing shades of good and evil, showing characters with inner depths and divided loyalties, but it is not. It's just another sword and sorcery offering with a tired narrative. It brings nothing new to the genre. The tension, menace and darkness of the books are lost here. What makes the story of Tom Ward so thoroughly enjoyable is the back drop of the dark north west of England landscape full of old legend, terror and harshness. Tom Ward is portrayed as a boy in the books, but is an older youth in the film. This changes the relationship with Alice completely. Less glossy monster scenes and more sustained menace might have improved matters. I think you have done young people a disservice here if you do not think that they can be absorbed by anything other than special affects and zany get outs. You never for one moment worry for Tom, and fear for his life and soul. Such a shame.

The witch Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore) is imprisoned down a pit by Gregory (Jeff Bridges). Long time after, Malkin escapes and John Gregory is the last of the knights of the order of Falcons. She kills his apprentice William Bradley. He recruits a replacement, Tom Ward (Ben Barnes), who is a farm boy and the seventh son of a seventh son. Tom rescues Alice (Alicia Vikander) who is about to be burnt as a witch. She's the daughter of Malkin's sister Lizzie (Antje Traue). Malkin intends to wreck havoc with her minions as the Blood Moon rises.The first mistake is to kill off cutie pie Kit Harington. He's the star of the movie for the first ten minutes. The movie is left with the growling Bridges and the weaker Ben Barnes. This has no joy or fun. It is a growling, grumpy, dull affair. It's got plenty of whirling CGI but none of it is that compelling. There are more than a few incidences of clunky writing. This is an overblown dour fantasy.