The Seventh Seal is iconic for its tale of a disillusioned knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) who plays a chess match for his life with Death (Bengt Ekerot). It’s one of the most recognized foreign films of its era, and has been referenced in all sorts of movies including Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s Last Action Hero. In Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, Bill S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) and Ted “Theodore” Logan (Keanu Reeves) are killed by robotic replicas of themselves. Upon meeting their premature demise, they’re greeted by Death (William Sadler) and must engage in a contest with the hooded reaper for a second chance at life, clearly taking its inspiration from Bergman’s classic. The pairing of these two films is just a crystal clear example of why FilmStruck is a haven for movie lovers. It’s an inclusive service that loves cinema in all of its forms, be it philosophical musings about life and death or two stoned doofuses on a bogus journey.
Check out the trailer for this Friday’s wild double feature of The Seventh Seal and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. If you haven’t already tried FilmStruck (seriously, it’s amazing), go to their site and sign up for a free trial. Be warned, there are so many great movies on FilmStruck that you might find yourself hooked watching great movies until Death comes to your door with a chess set.
