Solomon Kane

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Solomon Kane is available in the US on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. James Purefoy anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

There is a reason Solomon Kane keeps coming up in conversation. Solomon Kane uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. A nomadic 16th century warrior, condemned to hell for his brutal past, seeks redemption by renouncing violence, but finds some things are worth burning for as he fights to free a young Puritan woman from the grip of evil. James Purefoy and Pete Postlethwaite lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. What separates Solomon Kane from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Solomon Kane fits the bill. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. James Purefoy anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.