Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Grim, serious tale with little excitement, tons of violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Pilgrimage
What's the Story?
In PILGRIMAGE, young Brother Diarmuid (Tom Holland) is an inexperienced monk living in a remote monastery in Ireland, circa 1209 A.D. His friend, an unnamed mute monk (Jon Bernthal) looks after him. They're visited by Brother Geraldus (Stanley Weber), who tells them that the Church needs a holy relic that the monks have in their possession. So they must begin a long, treacherous journey, protecting the relic the entire way. They're joined by a soldier (Richard Armitage), who may or may not be trustworthy. As the journey wears on, Brother Diarmuid experiences unheard-of violence and finds courage he never knew he had.
Is It Any Good?
Brendan Muldowney directs this historical dirge, which is plagued by snooze-inducing seriousness, a dutiful reliance on genre chestnuts, and an overall lack of excitement. Game of Thrones this most certainly is not. Viewers who loved Holland's exuberance in Spider-Man: Homecoming will find none of that here; in Pilgrimage, he merely looks damp and confused. The actors speak (well, argue, mostly) in various languages, including Gaelic; there are subtitles, though all of it sounds tired. Bernthal comes off a bit better, perhaps due to the fact that his character has no dialogue; his expressive face and impressive physicality show that he's a true pro.
Muldowney's palette is gray and somber, and the music drones on, which will make viewers glad that they weren't around 800 years ago; it doesn't look like much fun. But, rather than keeping with any kind of old-fashioned motif, the director uses modern, wobbly hand-held camera for his muddy close-ups. Then, when the gruesome violence erupts, he responds with fast, choppy editing. Overall, this adventure-less adventure is about as thrilling as what the holy relic actually turns out to be when its box is opened.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Pilgrimage's violence. How intense is it? What affect does it have? Does exposure to violent movies or video games make kids more aggressive?
What is the movie's message about religion and religious beliefs? Do you agree?
What is the meaning of the religious icon? Why is it so ordinary looking?
How does this movie compare to other movies or TV shows you've seen that take place in the Middle Ages? What does that time seem like, overall?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 11, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : October 10, 2017
- Cast : Tom Holland , Jon Bernthal , Richard Armitage
- Director : Brendan Muldowney
- Studio : RLJ Entertainment
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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