The Penitent Blades
- Tagline
- In a broken world, redemption is forged in the fires of the past.
- Description
- In the crumbling remnants of a once-majestic kingdom, mired by centuries of dystopian decay, 'The Penitent Blades' opens amidst the medieval ruins. A valiant but beleaguered fantasy warrior, played by Joseph Gourd-on-Levitt, grapples with the burden of a tainted legacy. Luke Wilsoup inhabits the role of a hardened detective, a seeker of truth in an age of deceit. Together, they face the daunting forces of darkness that abound, while Crispy Plummer enigmatically portrays an erstwhile ruler whose fall from grace fuels the story’s heart of redemption and forgiveness. Directed with an impartial gaze by Guillermo del Tortoise, the film weaves a tale of courageous reckoning, where honor and sin collide, and the path to absolution cuts deep through the shadows of history.
- MpaaRating
- R
- PopularityScore
- 1.50
- ReleaseDate
- 05/11/2023
- Genre
- History
- Director(s)
- Cast
Critic Reviews
7.50
The Penitent Blades' endeavors to craft a tapestry of atonement within a dystopian canvas are admirably executed. A fusion of intriguing world-building and thematic prowess, the film brandishes its sword with a dual edge of morality and spectacle. Joseph Gourd-on-Levitt brings a palpable intensity to his warrior's journey, countered by Luke Wilsoup's solid, gritty performance that lends a grounded detective narrative often absent in typical fantasy fare. Crispy Plummer offers a nuanced portrayal, marking a high point in the quartet of interesting character arcs. However, the film's aspiration sometimes exceeds its grasp, as the director Guillermo del Tortoise occasionally dwells too long on aesthetic melancholia at the expense of narrative tempo. Nonetheless, 'The Penitent Blades' cleaves through the genre's norms with a certain gravitas, culminating in a reflection on redemption that's worthy of contemplation. While the film doesn't completely revitalize the rusty armor of its genre, it certainly polishes it with a thoughtful, if not entirely even, hand.