ABOUT / PLOT

Set during the 2nd century Roman conquest of Britain ‘Centurion’ tells the mythic story of the Ninth Legion, a group of soldiers who legend has it marched into Scotland never to be seen again.

Centurion Quintus (Michael Fassbender) is the sole survivor of a brutal invasion by the Scotland Pict rebel tribe. He joins the legendary ‘Ninth Legion’ brigade as they set out to avenge the Picts. However most of the legion is killed in a fierce battle, with the General Virilus (Dominic West) captured by the rebels. Quintus struggles to survive with a decreasing army of soldiers, and the race begins as they try to outrun the Picts and return home.

HADRIAN'S WALL

Boyhood visits to Hadrian's Wall have been an important influence on the film. 'Roman history was kind of unavoidable where I was growing up,’ recalls the Newcastle born Marshall.

‘It was everywhere all the place names and ruins and forts. My dad’s a history buff and I spent a lot of time on Hadrian’s Wall. I became fascinated by the idea of what was so terrifying up there that the Romans built a 60 mile long, 30ft high stone wall to keep it out?’

SIGNIFICANCE

As I wrote this I was thinking “this is exactly what’s going on in the world today”,’ muses Marshall.

‘It’s about a superpower invading this country and being defeated by guerrilla warfare. In 2,000 years we haven’t learned a thing. I kind of saw Ancient Britain as the equivalent of Rome’s Wild West.

EPIC?

To filmmakers who believe any swords and sandals film must be epic or at least overwrought, Neil Marshall's Centurion delivers some large scale action but plays almost like a Roman era Western in its depiction of a few soldiers trying to get home alive after the slaughter of their comrades.

REVIEWS

"Centurion finds the Brit director Neil Marshall back on B-movie form with an unpretentious, straight-up action film set in Roman Britain." Alistair Harkness, Scotsman

"Filmed in cold, steely greys and blues, it's at its best during the numerous action setpieces, particularly close-quarter, hand-to-hand combat where the butchery of axes, knives and spears is shown in all its gory glory." Tim Evans, Sky Movies

"A fast-paced and action-heavy period piece that focuses on what matters most in a Saturday afternoon matinee: the good stuff." Scott Weinberg, Cinematical

"Fassbender delivers a powerfully charismatic performance as Dias, as tender and convincing in his romantic scenes with Imogen Poots (as a Pict woman banished for alleged witchcraft) as he is skilled and efficient in the action sequences and fight scenes." Matthew Turner, The View London

"Working with his regular cinematographer Sam McCurdy, Marshall delivers a picture with a dark, earthy style that suits the material well, making an easy transition from their well-received horror films ("Dog Soldiers," "The Descent") to more broadly accessible fare."John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter