Beowulf (1999 film)
| Beowulf | |
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French language theatrical poster
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| Directed by | Graham Baker |
| Produced by |
Lawrence Kasanoff Frank Hildebrand Mark Leahy Donald Kushner (executive producer) |
| Screenplay by | Mark Leahy David Chappe |
| Based on | Beowulf |
| Starring |
Christopher Lambert Rhona Mitra Oliver Cotton |
| Music by | Jonathan Sloate Ben Watkins |
| Cinematography | Christopher Faloona |
| Edited by | Roy Watts |
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Production
company |
The Kushner-Locke Company
Capitol Films Threshold Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Dimension Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million (estimated) |
Beowulf is a 1999 American science fantasy-action film loosely based on the Old English epic poem Beowulf. The film was directed by Graham Baker and written by Mark Leahy and David Chappe, and comes from the same producer as Mortal Kombat, which also starred Lambert.
Unlike most film adaptations of the poem, this version is a science-fiction/fantasy film that, according to one film critic, "takes place in a post-apocalyptic, techno-feudal future that owes more to Mad Max than Beowulf." While the film remains fairly true to the story of the original poem, other plot elements deviate from the original poem (Hrothgar has an affair with Grendel's mother, and they have a child together, Grendel; Hrothgar's wife commits suicide).
The setting is a post-industrial castle that defends the border of an unnamed kingdom. It is terrorized by a demon named Grendel, who kills the castle's defenders, one by one. After fighting his way past several soldiers trying to keep anyone from entering or leaving, the warrior Beowulf offers his help to the castle's king, Hrothgar, who welcomes his help.
Hrothgar has a daughter named Kyra, who is loved by Roland, the castle's strongest soldier, but she does not return his affections. It is revealed that Hrothgar's wife and Kyra's mother, committed suicide when she found out Hrothgar had an affair. The woman he had an affair with was actually an ancient being who had originally lived on the castle's lands. The affair resulted in an offspring, Grendel.
Beowulf and Grendel fight, wounding each other. Later, after recovering, they fight again and this time Beowulf rips Grendel's arm off with a retracting cestus. That night the castle celebrates as they believe Grendel is dead. Kyra declares her love for Beowulf and he returns her affection. Kyra tells him that she killed her previous husband after he abused her. Beowulf tells her that his mother is human and his father is Baal, "God of darkness, Lord of lies". This explains his tremendous fighting prowess.
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