Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Clavius, a powerful Roman military tribune, and his aide, Lucius, are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.
Risen takes a genuinely fresh angle on the Easter story by filtering it through the eyes of a skeptical Roman tribune tasked with debunking the resurrection — a perspective rarely explored in biblical cinema. This investigative procedural framing gives the familiar narrative real novelty and tension. The plot is serviceable and holds interest, though it loses some momentum in the second half once the mystery resolves. Acting is competent, with Joseph Fiennes grounding the film with a credible arc, though supporting performances are uneven. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable — the Maltese and Spanish locations are used adequately without particular visual ambition. The ending is thoughtful and restrained, leaving Clavius at a crossroads rather than forcing a tidy conversion, which suits the film's tone but may feel inconclusive to some viewers.