Assassin's Creed (2016)

Your destiny is in your blood.

PG-13
1h 56m

Directed by: Justin Kurzel
Screenplay: Adam Cooper
Premiered: December 21, 2016
Language: English
Status: Released
Budget: $125,000,000.00
Revenue: $240,700,000.00
Awards: 2 wins & 2 nominations total
Country: France
United Kingdom
United States of America

Assassin's Creed

5.4/10 (7958 vote)

★★★★★★★★★★

Production: New Regency Pictures
The Kennedy/Marshall Company
Ubisoft Film & Television
DMC Film

Spoiler

In the tumultuous year of 1492, Spain finds itself at the precipice of a clandestine war, a conflict waged not with armies but with ancient artifacts and the very essence of human autonomy. The venerable Knights of the Templar Order, driven by a desire to impose order upon a chaotic world, are relentlessly pursuing a legendary relic: the Apple of Eden. Whispers of its power suggest it holds the very seeds of humanity's first transgression, a potent symbol of free will that the Templars intend to seize, thereby consolidating their control over the populace. Standing as a bulwark against this encroaching tyranny is the Brotherhood of Assassins, an ancient society dedicated to safeguarding humanity's liberty. Their mission: to thwart the Templars at every turn. At the forefront of this shadowed struggle is Aguilar de Nerha, portrayed by Michael Fassbender, a skilled Assassin tasked with the monumental responsibility of preventing the Apple from falling into Templar hands. In moments of profound dedication, he articulates the core tenet of his order: "We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins."

The narrative then catapults forward to the 20th century, introducing a young Callum Lynch, played by Angus Brown, whose youthful exuberance is evident in his daring attempts to navigate the urban landscape atop his bicycle, leaping across rooftops. His ambition, however, is tragically cut short. Returning home, he is confronted by a scene of unimaginable horror: his mother, Mary (Essie Davis), lies murdered, the perpetrator being his own father, Joseph (Brian Gleeson), clad in the distinctive attire of an Assassin. Overwhelmed by terror and confusion, Cal flees, his father pursued by the modern-day manifestations of the Templar Order.

The story now resides in the present day. An adult Callum, once again embodied by Michael Fassbender, faces his own impending demise, awaiting execution after a conviction for murder. Strapped into a chair, poised for a lethal injection, Cal's consciousness is assailed by a torrent of disorienting imagery, a prelude to his descent into unconsciousness.

He awakens to find himself under the care of Dr. Sophia Rikkin (Marion Cotillard), who informs him that while legally deceased, he has been brought to a clandestine facility. A desperate bid for freedom sees Cal escape his confinement, his flight leading him to a vast window offering a panoramic vista of the city. It is here that Sophia reveals the imposing structure belongs to Abstergo Industries, a powerful corporation with an urgent need for his unique genetic lineage.

Callum is then escorted to a room dominated by a formidable, claw-like apparatus known as the Animus. Sophia explains its revolutionary purpose: to unlock and access the ancestral memories embedded within his DNA, allowing him to experience the life of his 15th-century ancestor, Aguilar. Once connected to the Animus, Cal is transported to the heart of the Spanish Inquisition, inhabiting the persona of Aguilar. Alongside his formidable partner, Maria (Ariane Labed), Aguilar is tasked with a perilous mission: to rescue Prince Ahmed of Granada (Kemaal Deen-Ellis), the son of Sultan Muhammad XII (Khalid Abdalla), who has been abducted by Templars under the ruthless command of Tomas de Torquemada (Javier Gutierrez). The Templars' ultimate objective is to secure the Apple of Eden from the Sultan. Aguilar executes a swift and decisive strike, dispatching the Templar leader with a concealed Hidden Blade. A thrilling pursuit ensues as Aguilar and Maria race to intercept the chariot transporting Ahmed. Their daring maneuver sends the chariot hurtling off a precipice, plunging into the abyss. Aguilar manages to secure Ahmed, but finds himself dangling precariously. His precarious situation is compounded by the arrival of a formidable Templar leader, Ojeda (Hovik Keuchkerian). It is at this critical juncture that Sophia extracts Callum from the Animus, leaving him suspended in a literal cliffhanger.

Within the Abstergo facility, Cal encounters a diverse group of individuals who share his extraordinary heritage – they are all descendants of Assassins. Among them is Moussa (Michael K. Williams), whose ancestor, Baptiste, was known for employing voodoo rituals against his adversaries.

Callum begins to experience unsettling hallucinations, witnessing Aguilar engaged in combat, at times appearing as though he is attacking Cal himself. Sophia attributes these disorienting visions to the natural process of Animus synchronization, explaining that the device is designed to reveal the deep-seated influences that have shaped individuals.

Sophia and her father, Alan Rikkin (Jeremy Irons), are revealed to be prominent figures within the Templar organization. They profess a shared objective: to locate the Apple of Eden, believing its acquisition will be the key to eradicating violence from the world. Rikkin confers with a senior Templar, Ellen Kaye (Charlotte Rampling), who expresses her dissatisfaction with the project's lack of progress in locating the Apple, even contemplating its termination.

Callum's Animus-induced visions intensify, depicting Aguilar in aggressive confrontations. Cal instinctively dodges these phantom assaults, but in his struggle, he inadvertently strikes several Abstergo personnel. Subdued, he is returned to the Animus. This time, the experience plunges him into a dire situation: Aguilar and Maria are captured and imprisoned, sharing a cell with their mentor, Benedicto (Carlos Bardem). Facing public execution, Benedicto is tragically burned alive. However, Aguilar manages to break free, liberating Maria. Their escape is marked by a series of explosions, triggered by igniting oil barrels, as they flee across the rooftops, pursued by Templars. Aguilar executes a daring Leap of Faith, a signature Assassin maneuver, which, in the present, causes a critical malfunction in the Animus, ensnaring Callum.

A poignant conversation unfolds between Cal and Sophia, revealing a shared animosity towards the Assassins, as both their mothers were victims of the order.

Callum is reunited with Joseph (now portrayed by Brendan Gleeson). The lingering pain of his mother's death fuels Cal's resentment towards his father. However, Joseph offers a profound explanation: Mary had willingly sacrificed herself, a desperate measure to prevent both her and Cal from becoming subjects of Abstergo's invasive experiments.

Returning to the Animus, Cal witnesses Aguilar and Maria arrive just as the Apple of Eden is about to be exchanged between Torquemada and the Sultan, a transaction intended to secure Ahmed's return. The Assassins intervene, engaging the Templars in a fierce battle. They eliminate all but Torquemada and Ojeda. Aguilar secures the Apple, but Ojeda seizes Maria, holding a knife to her throat. He demands the Apple, but Maria, in a display of unwavering resolve, declares she would rather perish than see Aguilar yield. Aguilar clutches the Apple, and in a brutal act, Ojeda drives the knife into Maria's neck, killing her. Aguilar, consumed by grief and rage, retaliates, dispatching Ojeda with his Hidden Blade before making his escape with the Apple.

The Rikkins learn that the Apple is believed to be hidden within the tomb of Christopher Columbus. After its retrieval, they prepare for a grand ceremony at a temple in London. During this time, Sophia uncovers a disturbing truth about her father: his true ambition lies not in achieving peace, but in the complete annihilation of the Assassins.

Callum has achieved full synchronization with Aguilar, embracing his ancestral identity as an Assassin. This transformation is solidified by a vision of his mother, Mary, now garbed as an Assassin, offering him guidance. Embracing his destiny, Cal leads Moussa and a contingent of modern-day Assassins in a decisive assault against the Templars, resulting in the near-total eradication of their forces. Cal and Sophia confront each other. She issues a threat of exposure, but Cal, now fully aware of his power and purpose, dismisses her warning. Together, they reach Alan Rikkin and execute him, reclaiming the Apple of Eden.

With the Assassins freed from Abstergo's dominion, Sophia emerges, her intentions veiled, hinting at a potential conspiracy against Callum, a retaliatory act for her father's demise.