10 Best Horror Movies Set In Medieval Times

In 1327 two monks made their way to an imposing monastery in the north of Italy. They were summoned there to investigate a murder, since the elder of the monks, William of Baskerville (played by the legendary Sean Connery) is known for his investigative powers. His young apprentice Adso (played by the incredibly fresh-faced Christian Slater) is keen to learn all he can from the world as William sees it, as well as study at the great library of this monastery, which is renowned throughout the scholarly world.

But as William deduces the cause of the murder they were called for, another priest turns up dead, then another, then more. Fear grips the monastery as some of the monks whisper that at least one of the bodies found resembles a death foretold in the Book of Revelation. William becomes tied deeper into this tangled web of intrigue and murder, set against an imposing landscape and a monastery layered with suspicion.

While it differs from the novel by Umberto Eco in many ways, this film manages to capture the sense of foreboding and dread that went along with the religious supremacy of the dark ages. The performances from our two leads, as well as F. Murray Abraham as the Inquisitor Bernardo Gui, are excellent to behold, but the real star of the show is the monastery itself.

Steeped in vital atmosphere and darkness, the setting of this murderous tale is one that brings the mysterious nature of monastic life to the very foreground.