Westpoint military academy, the early 1800s: When a cadet, Fry (Steven Maier), is found hanged by his neck, it's quickly ruled a suicide, but when once in the morgue, his heart is removed by a person unknown, that's a bit worrying, which is why Westpoint's high brass (Simon McBurney, Timothy Spall) call in outside help, Augustus Landor (Christian Bale), a formerly brilliant detective who has turned recluse since the disappearance of his daughter Mattie (Hadley Robinson). He accepts the offer, and soon finds some interesting clues even the resident doctor, Marquis (Toby Jones), who has also performed the autopsy, has overlooked, like that Fry was actually murdered. However, questioning the cadets as an outsider proves to be difficult for Landor, so he enlists the help of an eccentric cadet, Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling), who he believes will be able to shed a new light on things. Soon, Landor and Poe circle back on Dr. Marquis coming from different directions, and it's not long before Poe falls madly in love with the doctor's daughter Lea (Lucy Boynton), a lovely girl his age unfortunately suffering from fits of epilepsy. Landor meanwhile finds the behaviour of the doctor's wife Julia (Gillian Anderson) towards him and everybody mighty irritating. Then Poe is violently attacked by another cadet - and another of Lea's suitors, Ballinger (Fred Hechinger), and only just saved from being beaten to a pulp by Landor. The next day he's found hanged and his heart cut out, and it's soon rumoured this is the work of Satanists. Meanwhile, back at the doctor's place, Poe is drugged, and Lea, her brother Artemus (Harry Lawtey), and their mother drag him to the basement to perform a blood ritual to free Lea of her epilepsy ... and it's only in the nick of time that Landor solves the case, saves Poe, but due to his meddling, the basement's set on fire, a fire in which Lea and her brother perish. So all's well that ends well? Hell no, it's week's later that Landor receives a visit from Poe who accuses him of having killed the cadets because they have raped his daughter, which ultimately didn't lead to her disappearance but suicide, and the Marquis family cutting out Fry's heart for the blood sacrifice was just a lucky coincidence to throw everyone off the track. Another lucky coincidence was of course Landor being appointed to investigate the case ...

Actually, this is a bit meh of a film: Sure there are many macabre details in there, sure good use is made of its impressive scenery, and sure, Christian Bale can carry a movie ... but it's the writing that doesn't quite add up: For one, the whole thing is at the same time over-constructed and not well constructed at all, leaving too much too mere coincidence, and while the final solution sure comes as a surprise and makes sense, it's never really worked towards, is pretty much drawn out of the hat. Plus, the inclusion of Edgar Allan Poe as a character only makes marginal sense for anything but publicity reasons, as similarities with any of his work are but fleeting, sometimes feel forced even, and Harry Melling is somewhat overselling the character's eccentricity. Also, one can't help but notice the main characters feel a bit hollow, and the attempts to give them mock depth only adds to that feeling. So in all it's a film not without its moments, but a few good moments hardly make a good film.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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