GODS OF EGYPT (2016)

Summary:

In a fantastical ancient Egypt where gods live among mortals, the benevolent reign of King Osiris is tragically cut short by his jealous brother, Set, the god of darkness. During the coronation of Osiris's son, Horus, Set brutally murders Osiris, blinds Horus, and seizes the throne, plunging Egypt into an era of tyranny and enslavement. Humanity is forced to serve Set, building monumental structures in his honor, while the other gods are either subjugated or flee.

Amidst this oppressive regime, a brave mortal thief named Bek embarks on a perilous quest to save his love, Zaya, who is tragically killed while aiding him. Bek forms an unlikely alliance with the disgraced god Horus, promising to help him reclaim his eyes and throne in exchange for Horus's power to resurrect Zaya. Their journey takes them across mystical lands, facing mythical beasts and confronting other powerful gods, as they strive to overthrow Set and restore balance to the world, ultimately determining the fate of both gods and mortals.

Keywords: Gods of Egypt, 2016, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Brenton Thwaites, Gerard Butler, Fantasy, Action, Adventure.

Plot:

The story unfolds in a mythical ancient Egypt, where gods and mortals coexist. The gods, taller and possessing divine powers, rule over humanity. The land is prosperous under the benevolent rule of Osiris, the god of the afterlife, who is preparing to crown his son, Horus, as the new king. During the lavish coronation ceremony, Osiris's brother, Set, the god of darkness, makes a dramatic and violent entrance. Consumed by envy and a thirst for power, Set brutally murders Osiris in front of the assembled gods and mortals. He then challenges Horus, defeats him, and rips out both of Horus's eyes, symbols of his power and divine right. With Horus defeated and Osiris dead, Set declares himself the new king of Egypt, enslaving its people and forcing them to construct colossal monuments in his name, plunging the once-thriving land into chaos and despair.

Centuries pass under Set's tyrannical rule. Mortals toil under harsh conditions, their faith in the gods waning. Among them is Bek, a skilled mortal thief, who lives with his beloved Zaya. Zaya, who works for the architect Urshu (a human servant of Set), maintains a flicker of hope and faith in the old gods. Believing that Horus is the rightful king, she urges Bek to steal one of Horus's eyes, which Set keeps locked in his vault, hoping it will aid Horus in reclaiming his throne. Bek, driven by his love for Zaya, successfully infiltrates Set's heavily guarded vault and retrieves one of Horus's eyes. However, during their escape, Urshu discovers Zaya's involvement and fatally wounds her. With Zaya dying in his arms, Bek desperately seeks out the disgraced and embittered Horus, who has been living in self-imposed exile, consumed by apathy and despair. Bek offers Horus his stolen eye, but only on the condition that Horus uses his divine power to resurrect Zaya. Horus, initially dismissive and arrogant, reluctantly agrees to the pact, seeing it as his only chance to regain his full power and avenge his father.

Their perilous journey begins, an unlikely alliance between a jaded god and a determined mortal. Their first objective is to retrieve Horus's second eye, which Set guards even more fiercely. Their quest takes them across the treacherous landscape of Egypt, facing mythical creatures and overcoming deadly traps. They encounter Hathor, the goddess of love, who was once Horus's lover. Hathor, carrying a bracelet that serves as a key to the afterlife, aids them, her love for Horus still evident despite his bitterness. As they travel, Horus slowly begins to shed his arrogance and self-pity, witnessing the suffering of humanity firsthand and finding renewed purpose in his quest. Bek, in turn, learns to navigate the world of gods, using his mortal cunning to compensate for his lack of divine power. Their bond strengthens as they face challenges together, including a confrontation with the Sphinx, which tests their wit and courage. They also seek out Thoth, the god of wisdom, who possesses vast knowledge but is initially reluctant to involve himself in the conflict, fearing Set's wrath. However, after much persuasion and a demonstration of Horus's renewed commitment, Thoth agrees to help them.

Meanwhile, Set's ambition knows no bounds. He seeks to absorb the powers of other gods, believing this will make him invincible, even surpassing his father, Ra, the sun god. Set steals Osiris's heart from the afterlife, Thoth's brain, and plans to take other divine organs, including Horus's remaining eye. His ultimate goal is to confront Ra, who spends his days battling the monstrous beast of chaos, Apophis, in space, pulling the sun across the sky. Set believes that if he can defeat Ra, he will control the entire cosmos. As Horus and Bek continue their journey, they learn of Set's grander scheme and realize the stakes are far higher than just the Egyptian throne; the very balance of creation is at risk. Bek, desperate to fulfill his promise to Zaya, convinces Horus to take a detour to the underworld, using Hathor's bracelet to gain passage. In the realm of the dead, Bek attempts to retrieve Zaya's soul, but learns that he cannot simply bring her back. The passage to the afterlife requires payment, and Zaya's soul has already reached the final gate, meaning she cannot return unless a living soul takes her place. Bek is heartbroken but understands the finality of death.

The climax unfolds as Set prepares for his final confrontation with Ra. Having absorbed the powers of several gods, Set transforms into a colossal, monstrous form. He intercepts Ra's sun-chariot in orbit, attempting to seize Ra's spear, which is the only weapon capable of harming Apophis. Ra, weakened from his constant battle, is overwhelmed. Back on Earth, Horus, now with both eyes restored and his full power returned, confronts Set in a cataclysmic battle. Their fight rages across Egypt, causing immense destruction. Bek, despite being a mortal, bravely assists Horus, using his agility and cunning to create distractions and exploit weaknesses in Set's defenses. During the fierce struggle, Bek is gravely wounded while trying to retrieve Ra's spear from Set, sacrificing himself to give Horus a chance. Witnessing Bek's selfless act, Horus finds a renewed surge of strength and purpose. He finally defeats Set, tearing out his heart and ending his tyranny. With Set vanquished, Horus restores the balance to Egypt, bringing back the fertile lands and freeing the enslaved people. He then ascends the throne, not as the arrogant god he once was, but as a wise and compassionate king, having learned humility and the value of mortal life through his journey with Bek.

As Horus assumes his rightful place, he remembers his promise to Bek. Though he cannot bring Zaya back, he uses his newfound power as king to grant Bek a special boon. He asks Ra to allow Bek to return to the world of the living, not as a god, but as a respected mortal, acknowledging his bravery and sacrifice. Ra agrees, and Bek is resurrected, albeit still a mortal. He chooses to live among his people, serving as an advisor to King Horus, bridging the gap between gods and mortals. The film concludes with Egypt entering a new era of peace and prosperity under Horus's reign, a testament to the idea that even gods need the courage and heart of mortals to achieve true greatness, and that love and sacrifice can triumph over even the darkest of evils.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Horus
• Brenton Thwaites as Bek
• Gerard Butler as Set
• Elodie Yung as Hathor
• Courtney Eaton as Zaya
• Chadwick Boseman as Thoth
• Rufus Sewell as Urshu
• Geoffrey Rush as Ra

Crew:

• Director: Alex Proyas
• Writers: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless
• Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Alex Proyas
• Music: Marco Beltrami
• Cinematography: Peter Menzies Jr.
• Editor: Richard Learoyd

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: February 26, 2016 (USA)
• Language: English
• Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
• Running Time: 127 minutes
• Accolades: Nominated for 5 Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture and Worst Director.