Inspired by the novel "The Spook's Apprentice" by Joseph Delaney, $95-million mystical adventure "Seventh Son" is probably slightly better than its delayed release suggests (it was filmed nearly three years ago and has been growing cobwebs on the shelf for two). That is not to suggest it is in any way, shape or form actually good, though. The actors struggle to make gold out of the direct-to-video-level screenplay by Charles Leavitt (2008's "The Express") and Steven Knight (2014's "Locke"), while super-brief sparks of inspiration courtesy of director Sergei Bodrov are not enough to freshen the stale scent of empty disposability permeating its existence.
Years ago, Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) locked away the corrupted woman he loved—shape-shifting witch Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore)—in hopes that she would never be able to harm another living soul. Now, with the lunar cycle of the once-every-century blood moon beginning, she has been unleashed from her underground tomb. As Mother Malkin prepares to take over the world at the moment the blood moon becomes full, Gregory knows that he must find a way to stop her. With his former warrior apprentice having perished, he elects restless farmer Tom Ward (Ben Barnes)—the coveted seventh son of a seventh son—to train under him and fight Malkin's creatures of the dark.
See Dustin Putman, TheFilmFile.com. for full review
