Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans is a joyous musical-comedy that feels fresh and innovative, drawing in young and old alike with its comedic charm.
Based on the bestselling books by Terry Deary, Horrible Histories first aired on TV in 2009. Horrible Histories has long offered children and adults a delightful mix of fun and learning, and its recipe has been a massive success for Children’s BBC, but how well does that recipe translate to the silver screen in Dominic Brigstocke’s Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans?
Thankfully, the answer is clear from the outset: as smoothly as a sweet bowl of Roman Porridge! Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans is a proudly British film, echoing the ingenuity and charm of the TV show, as well as the Ealing comedies of the past, Monty Python, and the Carry On series.
Opening with a tongue-in-cheek take on the treacherous murder of Claudius (Derek Jacobi) by his moody and insolent son, Nero (Craig Roberts), and scheming wife, Agrippina (Kim Cattrall), Horrible Histories delights in creating a freewheeling atmosphere. But the story really picks up the pace when we are introduced to Atti (Sebastian Croft), a typical Roman teen in search of a pair of golden boots. Unfortunately for Atti, the golden boots he seeks will lead to Nero’s banishment of him to the ‘Stain’ of the Empire (aka Britain). However, soon after arriving, Atti is captured by a fiery Celtic girl named Orla (Emilia Jones) just as a new Celtic warrior, Boudicca (Kate Nash), builds an anti-Roman alliance.
Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans is a joyous musical-comedy that feels fresh and innovative, drawing in young and old alike with its comedic charm. Jessica Swale and Giles Pilbrow’s screenplay is packed with glorious one-liners and wit as they skillfully adapt a TV sketch show into a feature-length story. Performances are equally fun, light, and energetic, with newcomer Sebastian Croft, Craig Roberts, and Emilia Jones delighting alongside a stunning ensemble cast. The result is a delicious mix of history, humour and fun that appeals to all ages.
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