Beowulf (movie) - Definition and Overview

Beowulf is a action movie from 1999 loosely based on the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. It has strong fantasy elements and some science fiction elements. It was directed by Graham Baker and the screenplay was written by Mark Leahy. The movie comes from the same producer as Mortal Kombat.

Beowulf has an industrial techno soundtrack.

Principal Cast

• Christopher Lambert - Beowulf
• Rhona Mitra - Kyra
• Oliver Cotton - Hrothgar
• Götz Otto - Roland
• Vincent Hammond - Grendel
• Charles Robinson - Weaponsmaster
• Layla Roberts - Grendel's mother
• Patricia Velasquez - Pendra

Plot

Beowulf is an extremely strong warrior. He goes to a castle which is haunted by a demon, Grendel, who is slowly killing its entire population. The castle is surrounded by soldiers who will not let anyone in or out but Beowulf fights his way though. Beowulf then states he intends to kill the demon. Hrothgat who is king of the castle welcomes his help.

Hrothgat has a daughter named Kyra. Another important character is Roland who is probably the strongest soldier of the castle. Roland is in love with Kyra, but she does not love him back. It also becomes clear Hrothgar had a wife who commited suicide after he slept with another woman. This woman turns out to be an ancient being who originally lived on the location where the castle is now. Their sexual intercouse created their child Grendel.

Beowulf and Grendel fight and they both wound each other, but they both recover.

Later Beowulf and Grendel fight again. Beowulf cuts Grendel's arm off with a retracting cestus. After this the castle celebrates as they think it is all over. Kyra declares her love for Beowulf and he returns her affection. Kyra tells him that she killed her previous husband after he treated her badly. Beowulf tells her that his mother is human and his father is Baal, "God of lies". This explains his tremendous fighting prowess.

While Kyra is with Beowulf all the other people in the castle are killed by Grendel's mother. Possibly Grendel assisted in these murders. Beowulf then goes on to kill Grendel by stabbing him and then kills his mother by stabbing her and cutting a fire vent placed in front of her, causing flames to engulf her and surrounding the castle in fire. Beowulf escapes the falling castle with Kyra. The castle is destroyed. Beowulf and Kyra are the only survivors.