CAPTAIN Solomon Kane is a brutally efficient 16th century killing machine. Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier, he and his men unleash their bloodlust as they fight for England in a variety of wars. But when Kane decides to attack a myst

CAPTAIN Solomon Kane is a brutally efficient 16th century killing machine.

Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier, he and his men unleash their bloodlust as they fight for England in a variety of wars.

But when Kane decides to attack a mysterious castle in an exotic north African city, to plunder its rumoured riches, his mission takes a fateful turn.

One by one, his men are picked off by demonic creatures until he is left alone to face the Devil's own reaper.

Though he manages to escape, Kane knows that he must redeem himself by renouncing violence and devoting himself wholly to a life of peace and purity.

But his newfound spirituality is quickly put to the ultimate test when he begins his journeys across an England ravaged by diabolical human raiders controlled by a terrifying, masked overlord.

James Purefoy stars as the eponymous hero in SOLOMON KANE (15), directed by Michael J Bassett (Deathwatch and Wilderness).

Max von Sydow, Pete Postlethwaite, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Jason Flemyng and Mackenzie Crook are all part of the impressive cast list.

The character of Kane was created in 1928 by Robert E Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian, for a Depression-era pulp magazine called Weird Tales.

The director says: "Reading through the Solomon Kane stories it was so obvious that this was a character desperate to be on the big screen.

"But I needed to try and find a story that would introduce him to the wider cinema-going public.

"So, rather than taking one of Howard's original stories, I decided to create an origins tale for Kane, so that we understand a little bit of who he is.

"And that way, for any other movies, we can use Howard's original stories."

Purefoy did many of his own stunts. Stunt co-ordinator Franklin Henson says:"I can put my hand on my heart and say that he's done 95 per cent of his own sword fights, his riding and all the action."

In doing so, the actor sustained several injuries requiring stitches.

Purefoy says of Kane: "He's a very exciting character to play, very enigmatic and very interesting and I hope that over the course of three films we'll be able to tell his story really well.