Solomon Kane is a 2009 sword and sorcery film based on the pulp magazine character of the same name created in 1928 by Robert E. Howard.

In the year 1600, in North Africa, English privateer Solomon Kane leads his ship's crew into battle against the Ottoman defenders of a fortress town.

Kane fights his way to the throne room, but, before he can loot the riches, he is confronted by the "Devil's Reaper", a demon who tells him his soul is forfeit to Satan after his life of sin.

One year later, Kane has returned to England and found sanctuary in a monastery, renouncing violence and donating his wealth to the Church in hopes of finding redemption.

On his journey, he meets a deranged priest who explains Malachi's followers are taking the weaker survivors of their raids as slaves and corrupting the strong into soldiers.

Kane throws the robber to the ghouls, and, believing his quest for redemption has failed, drinks to excess at a country inn.

Wandering Star optioned the film and book publishing rights to Solomon Kane in 1997 from the Robert E. Howard Estate.

Things went quiet for a while during which time several scripts were developed around the African adventures of Solomon Kane from the classic text.

As of the end of February 2008[update], sets were still being built for the later part of the production, and Max Von Sydow and Mackenzie Crook had yet to begin shooting.

[8] On 23 October 2009, Bassett announced on her blog that "Kane is slowly gearing up for its first set of release dates at the end of this year and early 2010".

[13] The United Kingdom theatrical release was on 19 February 2010;[14] in its first week it opened at seventh place in the UK top ten with a weekend gross of £611,886 across 259 cinemas.

The US extras features included: Anamorphic 2.35:1 with a 5.1 English Dolby Digital track, Subtitles in English and Spanish only, Commentary with Michael J. Bassett and James Purefoy, The Making Of Solomon Kane (11:46), Cave Fight deleted scene (2:26), The Creation Of The Fire Demon (2:00), Interview With Writer/Director Michael J. Bassett (8:51), Interview with Actor James Purefoy (8:31) and Original Concept Art (1:15).

French extras features include: English and French audio, optional Subtitles in French, Introduction by the director, Commentary with James Purefoy and Michael J. Bassett, Interactive Diary, Partial interactive movie playback, Comparative film Storyboard of 7 sequences, Cave Fight Deleted Scene (with video introduction of the director), Making Of, Interview with Michael J. Bassett, Interview with James Purefoy, Interview with producers Samuel Hadida and Paul Berrow, Creation of the Fire Demon, Closing sequence Design, Production Drawings and Posters, Music Video, Trailer, Presentation at Comic Con.

This marks the second year in a row that a film starring James Purefoy and with sword and stunt coordination by Richard Ryan opened ActionFest (after 2011's Ironclad).

The consensus reads: "Solomon Kane's formulaic and bleak narrative is overcome by an entertaining, straightforward adherence to its genre, exciting gore, and a gratifying lead performance by James Purefoy.

The review says of the film as a whole: "For less than the effects budget of this year's other sword 'n' sorcery adventures, Percy Jackson and Clash of the Titans, Bassett has delivered a dark-as-balls Highlander for the 21st century, played with such conviction it's hard not to be swept along".

Bassett's direction is described as being handled "confidently if without much flair" while Purefoy "gamely endures heavy exertion throughout; it's not his fault the script lends his character might and a mission but little personality".

Its conclusion was mixed, stating: "There's plenty that's good here: a serious tone, steady pacing, muddy and bloody scenery and a convincing turn by Purefoy in his own west country accent.

[26] Time Out awarded the film with 4/5 stars, giving a positive review which praised the originality of the story and sharp 17th-century setting.

[30] However, due to the film's poor critical reception and box office performance, no sequels where made despite fan outcry for the trilogy to go ahead.