The Scotsman Robert the Bruce, also known as the Outlaw King, began his reign in 1306 as a fugitive. This historical man is the subject of a new Netflix film, which released Friday on the network.
As one with Scottish ancestry, and a deep love for the country, I couldn’t wait to watch this biographical drama.
Outlaw King
Outlaw King stars Chris Pine, Stephen Dillane, Billy Howle, Tony Curran, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh and Josie O’Brien. David Mackenzie directed the film, which carries an R rating, for violence, language and brief nudity. Outlaw King has a run time of 2 hours and 1 minute.
Oppression and Civil Skirmishes
This story takes place immediately after William Wallace’s efforts to thwart the English by uniting the Scottish nobles against them. King Edward I (Dillane) of England seeks to control the Scots, and any desire to place a king of their own on the throne, by demanding taxation, pressing men into armed service, and creating alliances with nobility.
During this time of unrest and uncertainty, Wallace is killed by the English, inciting rage throughout Scotland.
Robert the Bruce (Pine), a descendant of Scotland’s King David, decides to challenge Edward I. First he eliminates a powerful rival for the throne, then he has himself declared king, becoming Robert I.
Robert the Bruce and his wife Elizabeth de Burgh (Pugh) are inaugurated King and Queen of Scots at Scone on March 25, 1306.
Fugitive King
The news immediately sends a ripple through Scotland and England. King Edward sends his son, Edward (Howle), Prince of Wales, to handle the upstart. Most of the Scottish nobility don’t recognize Bruce as king and fail to support him.
Robert the Bruce narrowly escapes capture when an English army attacks during the Battle of Methven. He sends his wife and daughter Marjorie (O’Brien) to safety while he becomes a fugitive. Not only is Robert trying to establish an independent Scotland, he’s also facing a civil war.
Surrounded by a small group of men led by his friend Angus Macdonald (Curran) and wild man James Douglas (Taylor-Johnson), the outlaw king strategizes. As they seek to draw more men to their side, for the battles that will come, the group seizes one castle after another. The Bruce makes the decision that every castle he takes is to be destroyed because for King Edward to win Scotland, he must garrison Scotland. And he can’t do that unless he has castles to seize.
Fight With Me
As more of Scotland’s people rally to the new king, England’s Prince of Wales closes in. King Edward I dies en route to battle the usurper. His son, whom many see as a weaker man, assumes leadership of the troops.
Robert I uses ingenious tactics to overthrow the superior military force that approaches. He arms hundreds of men with 20-foot-long spears that they hold, straight out in front of them. And he takes advantage of the boggy, marshy land that will become the battlefield. The Bruce deliberately chooses an area where the strength of the English troops can’t be brought into play. The English are knights in armor on horses, and the Scots are men on foot. They lead the unsuspecting English into the mire of the marshes where they become trapped.
Robert’s first victory as king comes in that place, on May 1307, at what is known as the Battle of Loudoun Hill.
My Thoughts on Outlaw King
I appreciate the attention to detail and the authenticity in this gritty action packed film. Fact checking is one of the things I do with historical movies and this one is extremely accurate in the telling of Bruce’s story.
I watched the unfolding of Outlaw King with teary eyes. This was a difficult time in Scotland’s history. Robert the Bruce sacrificed much to keep his country independent. The Scottish people suffered. As the English searched for the fugitive king, they ransacked and burned villages as they went, killing the men, sending the women and children to England.
Bruce’s wife and daughter were taken captive as well and sent out of the country. Fortunately they were recovered, unharmed, later. The King and Queen of Scotland raised a family together. Their descendant, James VI, later became king over both Scotland and England.
The actor portraying James Douglas, who would become known as Black Douglas.
My Gratitudes
It’s easy to come up with five gratitudes, in connection with Outlaw King.
I’m grateful for this movie, which is in my favorite genre, historical drama. I especially appreciate its accuracy. My Scottish blood thrills to the fierceness of the people, and their desire to live in freedom. My own fierce independence is surely a result of my Scottish ancestry. And finally, seeing the mountains and rivers and lochs of Scotland pierces my heart and creates such a desire to “go home”.
Outlaw King drew from me hearty cheers for battles won, and a sigh of longing for Scotland. I’ll be there again soon. And when I next stand on Scottish soil I will pause to express gratitude for Robert the Bruce, who did so much to unite this beautiful country.
I really like this movie, but there are a few plot devices that play with history, also much was left out.
Bruce made his name as a tournament winner. Its also how initially he made his living. He was good, very good, and became the equivalent of a football star. It also meant that he was deadly in combat and that all of his peers knew this.
He never met Edward II in combat, although he did know him well, Edward was not present at Loudon Hill. Aymer De Valence was in command. The battle is well represented. His expertise in guerrilla warfare is not particularly well put across but his understanding of how the English used fortified places to dominate and therefore that they had to be taken and destroyed however is.
The movie ends almost twenty years before the final peace. (Sequel?) and therefore many other interesting events are missed out. Ie Bannockburn, De Bohun’s death, excommunication by the church of Rome, the arrival of the Templars, the Black Douglas, (Hush baby hush, now quiet be. Or The Black Douglas will come for thee) was a common rhyme in the north of England for generations.
So, lets hope for a sequel, with no plot baddie, Bruce doesn’t need one.
Thanks for the info. Let’s hope for a sequel!
Well said. Apparently if you get rid of your cavalry and find a large muddy pond to stand behind, sharpen a few four feet sticks, have somewhere between 50 to 500 men, you can where down and beat off the entire English army. 2,000 English cavalry were mentioned (the 20,000+ plus infantry were not- perhaps they were held up at Carlisle) who decided to charge straight on, shout it’s a trap, fight a little and run back to England forgetting their King.
Where were the archers? Where were the infantry?
Bruce actually had about 7,000 men, including 500 light cavalry.
His winning tactics were not shown in this film.
Underneath all those beards and long hair it was difficult to tell who was who.