Dark fantasy isn’t the most expansive genre, despite what the name might suggest. It turns out, the typical dark fantasy story feels like it could fit comfortably inside the setting of any other. That similarity of circumstances allows fans of one dark fantasy story to leap to the next and enjoy it. Look no further than the beloved long-running seriesDiabloand the unfairly maligned action filmSolomon Kane.
Looking back now, it’s shocking how much of genre fictionoriginated in pulp stories. They were once considered a disposable art form, but they’re the bedrock of so much of the sci-fi and fantasy fans love today. Instead of being inspired by those classic stories, M. J. Bassett decided to adapt directly.
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What isSolomon KaneAbout?
Set in England in the early 1600s, the titular Solomon King is an English privateer who makes his fortune raiding and pillaging for profit. At the apex of his greatest battle, Kane’s men are slaughtered byan army of demons. Kane is faced with a powerful foe who explains that his life of sin and violence has guaranteed him an eternity in Hell. In an act of desperation, he defies his fate and escapes the battle with his life. The experience permanently changes something within Kane, who takes a vow of pacifism, donates all of his wealth, and devotes his remaining years to seeking redemption.
Kane’s oath is tested when the followers of his faith expel him. He finds himself attacked by a group of thieves who exploit his newfound hatred of violence. Beaten and left for dead, Kane is forced to rely on the kindness of the Puritan Crowthorn family. The Crowthorns kindly treat Kane’s wounds, but they’re swiftly caught off guard, as a witch marks one of their members for sacrifice. The followersof an evil sorcerernamed Malachi attack, leaving most of the family dead and young lady Meredith captured. Kane is forced to give up his pacifist ways and return to the sword to rescue Meredith and avenge her family. It’s a grim story, in which a violent man must give up his chance at redemption to save someone else.
What isSolomon KaneBased On?
The characters and world ofSolomon Kanewere devised by none other than Robert E. Howard, the creatorofConanthe Barbarian. Howard is widely celebrated as the father of sword and sorcery fiction, but Kane has always held the silver medal among his creations. Howard pitched Kane as a dour Puritan, who used his swashbuckling skills and strong religious convictions to redress moral wrongs across Europe. The firstConanstory actually mentioned Kane in its teaser, using the character as a seal of quality before introducing a new face.
Solomon Kane appeared in 16 stories, most of which were published in the legendary pulp paper of recordWeird Tales. Kane was a simple character, completely morally upright and violently dedicated to stamping out evil. There was little levity in his world. Kane seemed miserable in much the same way that most extremely religious people are. After Howard’s initial run, Kane would appear in a run of Marvel Comics in the 70s and 80s.Marvel would bring himback in 2006 for a few miniseries. Fans can also enjoy the world in the form of the officially licensedSolomon Kaneboard game, which is the most recent notable development in the franchise.
How isSolomon KaneSimilar toDiablo?
There’s noSolomon Kanevideo game, but the closes a fan could come would probably be a melee-focusedRogue build in aDiablogame. The world of both stories is dark and unforgiving, the antagonists are all demons or cultists, and the violence is constant.Kanewas criticized for being a bit too dark in its big-screen adaptation. People felt it was formulaic, but its adherence to the dark fantasy subgenre locks it in with video games likeDiablo. Blizzard’s franchise captures a playable version of this particular type of fiction, allowing fans tofully immerse themselves ina version of the story. While there’s no swashbuckling Puritan class available, that slight change would make the game a perfectSolomon Kanesimulator.
Solomon Kanemight not be the most adventurous film, but it’s a solid feature for fans of the dark fantasy genre. Star James Purefoy captures the character’s early days perfectly and director M. J. Bassett seems to innately understand the emotional storytelling of the simple narrative. It’s brutal, action-packed, simplistic, and entertaining. Critics and audiences have been divided on the film since it came out in 2009, but in the light of releases likeGame of Thrones, it comes out looking pretty solid. Fans ofthe entire dark fantasy genrewill find something to love in Bassett’sSolomon Kanebecause both works are borrowing a lot from the same sources.
