Centurion, epic and historical

From its ominous opening, Marshall's eye for capturing hostile landscapes and bringing raw, bleak war scenes to life is evident.

Michael Fassbender and Dominic West dominate the screen with fierce acting duels. Their characters, one Roman, the other Pictish, are tormented souls in constant collision.

Marshall's camera plunges into the violence of combat with a rawness reminiscent of the masters of war cinema. But more than epic, it seeks to reflect the trauma and desperation of survival.

With touches of horror and a haunting score by Colin Stetson, Marshall breathes suspense into the protagonists' journey into enemy territory.

Centurion is a work that pushes the boundaries of genre. A wartime fresco that leaves the viewer's blood running cold and mind wrestling with universal themes of honour and duty.

Neil Marshall delivers a visceral work with Centurion, taking the historical sub-genre into more brutal and existential territory.

Although the reviews were mixed, Marshall's direction and the punishing performances of Fassbender and West were applauded by the industry.

The BAFTAs rewarded Stetson's haunting score, which enhanced Centurion's sense of dread and paranoia.

The box office was solid for a low-budget, R-rated action epic, grossing $30 million worldwide for a production cost of $15 million.