'Centurion' directed by Neil Marshall

The Roman invasion of Britain is depicted in this movie about the mysterious disappearance of the 9th Legion. Set in the early 2nd century, the film follows the mythical Roman army as it invades Britain and encounters the Pict tribe of Scotland. When the legion is ambushed, it loses in a gory guerrilla warfare with the Picts, leaving only a few survivors led by Centurion Quintas Dias (Michael Fassbender).

Dias is a fugitive of Rome who escapes into Britain and is co-opted into the legion. It is Dias who must lead the remaining survivors and exact revenge on Etain, a vengeful mute female warrior with Roman bloodlust. Dias reaches the home of an exiled Pict name Arianne who has been accused of witchcraft. Dias convinces her that he means no harm and she agrees to shelter them from Etain and the Picts as they make their way back to Rome. It is Etain who betrayed the legion in the ambush in order to exact revenge on the Romans for killing her family. Etain hunts down the Roman survivors relentlessly until Dias must fight to the death with her.

Centurion is a very graphic film that relies a lot on the battle scenes to tell the tale. Unfortunately, the story fails in much else. Etain and Dias duel it out one final time near the end but it's anti-climactic. We know that Dias would eventually have to face his nemesis in hand-to-hand combat. The Picts are definitely more violent in the movie but more background on Etain could have made the movie a much richer experience of revenge and retribution.

The love story between Arianne and Quintas is only mildly explored in the film. Their scenes hint at some growing bond but it is a minor plot compared to the violence and bloodshed.