#Green knight movie
#Green knight free

I definitely wanted to avoid that.It became a drama about a mother and a son in a way that I hadn't intended.

'She's vital to the story, but she really only shows up in the last two or three pages of the text. 'In the book, you get this deus ex machina appearance by Morgan le Fay and she's like, 'I was behind everything,'' Lowery said. This is partially inspired by the story, where it's revealed that The Green Knight is actually the Lord – the one played by Joel Edgerton – in disguise, transformed by Arthurian villainess Morgan le Fay.įor the film, Lowery decided to make Gawain's mother into Morgan le Fay (even though, like Arthur, we never hear her name spoken aloud). Instead, it's heavily implied that Gawain's mother, who dabbles in witchcraft, has summoned him. In the film, we see The Green Knight is no random character. The vision scenario has thrown some people off, and so have The Green Knight's motives. Gawain now removes the girdle and tells The Green Knight he's ready, and The Green Knight commends Gawain for his bravery, adding: 'And now, off with your head.' The implication is clear: Gawain will die, but he'll die with honor instead of becoming the powerful but flawed king he saw in his vision. Everything we've just seen has been fantasy, or dream, or vision – take your pick. Here, we're suddenly thrust back to the moment where Gawain is awaiting The Green Knight's ax blow. Gawain, realizing how much he's failed as a leader, undoes the girdle – at which point his head falls off, as if he were the girl with the ribbon in that classic scary story. Eventually, he ends up at a castle where the Lord ( Joel Edgerton) and Lady (Alicia Vikander again) both want to kiss him – and who can blame them? Have you seen Dev Patel? Easy on the eyes, that fellow!įinally, Gawain makes his way to the ruined chapel where the Green Knight awaits.Įventually, enemies lay siege to the castle. Gawain's quest has him encounter several characters, some fantastical, some antagonistic. She tells him that as long as he wears the girdle he'll be unharmed. Gawain agrees to go on the quest and is given a special protective girdle by his mother. Now, though, Gawain is faced with having his head cut off. Had he done that, the challenge wouldn't be much of a challenge. But Gawain also made the mistake of chopping the Knight's head off instead of giving him a simple, harmless scratch. He seems hesitant at first, and who can blame him? After all, this was supposed to be a game. A year passes, and Gawain is encouraged to honor his agreement. The Green Knight picks up his severed head, tells Gawain to come find him in a year, and then laughs his ass off as he rides away holding his head like the Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow. And so Gawain takes up Arthur's sword (the word 'Excalibur' is never said nor is the name Arthur – he's simply credited as 'King') and promptly chops The Green Knight's head off in one fell swoop. No one except Gawain, who sees this as an opportunity to impress his kingly uncle. Who among his brave knights will accept The Green Knight's challenge? No one seems particularly interested (where you at, Lancelot?!). But here's the catch: whoever inflicts the blow on The Green Knight has to promise to seek The Green Knight out a year later and submit to the same exact blow.Īrthur appears outraged at all of this, but he's also too feeble and weak to take up the game himself. The attacker can give the Green Knight a little scratch, or chop off his big green head.

#Green knight free

The game: someone is free to strike the Green Knight in any manner he pleases.

#Green knight movie

It's Christmas (which means The Green Knight is officially a Christmas movie now, so get lost, Die Hard), and the festivities are cut short when a hulking Green Knight ( Ralph Ineson), more tree than man, storms into the castle and challenges someone, anyone, to a game.