In ancient Egypt, gods walk among mortals, defined by their enormous size, golden blood and capacity to shape-shift into destructive animals. The tranquil rule of Osiris, king of the lush territories that thrived in the embrace of the Nile, is disrupted when his sibling Set, lord of the dry lands, becomes jealous and resentful. When Osiris’ son Horus is to be crowned that day, Set interrupts the ceremony, claiming the throne as his own and murdering Osiris when he refuses to battle him for it. Set then blinds Horus and banishes him, plunging Egypt into a dark times when mortals are forced to pay in gold to attain their afterlife.
A year later, the kingdom exists in the brutal grip of Set. In the film, Zaya, a slave of Set’s architect Urshu and Bek, her streetwise lover, concoct a plot to restore Horus’ sight by stealing his lost eye from Set’s vault. While Bek does recover one eye, Zaya is mortally injured when they escape. In a desperate maneuver, Bek makes a deal with Horus to help him retrieve his other eye in exchange for Zaya's resurrection.
Much of the film is a perilous quest: Along with solving the sphinx’s riddle to enter the pyramid where Set has imprisoned his own power, Horus and Bek face countless challenges battling Set’s hunters and giant serpents. Along the way they enlist allies such as Hathor, the goddess of love, and Thoth, the god of wisdom. Horus lies that he is able to resurrect Zaya, but Bek is not giving up on saving the girl.
Set still grows in power by stealing characteristics from the other gods, and eventually Horus and Bek confront him in a final showdown. Horus asks for help from Ra, god of sun, who gives Horus some of his power temporarily to fight governor Set. Horus must choose between ultimate power or saving the very people he cast away, leading to a climactic showdown in the kingdom of Egypt.
Character Details:
Horus: Sky god, son of Osiris and Isis. Horus is initially vain and self-interested, but does learn humility, decency, and a sense of obligation to defend those in his kingdom. Blinded and exiled by Set, he enlists the help of Bek to get his throne back and rebalance Egypt.
Bek: A mortal thief with great speed and cleverness. Devoted to Zaya, he will risk it all to steal Horus’ eye to revive her. Though different, Bek's cunning and courage make him an invaluable asset to Horus.
Set: God of chaos, deserts, and storms Bitter and ambitious, Set murders his brother Osiris to steal the throne and bring oppressive new decrees to the afterlife. In the course of the film, he absorbs powers from other gods until he’s nearly unstoppable, the ultimate villain.
Zaya: Bek’s precious girlfriend, enslaved by Urshu. Her belief in the gods, and her love for Bek, propels the plot, and her death gives Bek the impetus he needs to join Horus on his quest. The soul of Zaya is in the underworld, and that gives Bek the motivation to resurrect her.
Hathor: goddess of love and Horus protector. Originally Set’s consort in an effort to rescue Horus, she joins the mission to assist him in defeating Set. She is the goddess of the dead, able to communicate with the deceased and transport souls to the underworld, an essential function in the plot.
Osiris: The kindly god of the afterlife and father of Horus. This murder at the hands of Set poses the main conflict of the film. Horus is guided influence of Osiris legacy and teachings.
Ra: The sun god and father of Osiris and Set. The daily contest between Ra and the chaos serpent Apophis is a metaphor for the eternal conflict between order and chaos. He gives Horus temporary power to help in the final battle against Set.
Thoth: God of wisdom and knowledge. At first reluctant to join Horus’ quest, he eventually aids in solving the sphinx’s riddle, bringing his brains to the group.
Anubis: The God of Death and the afterlife. He guides souls to their eventual judgment and is critical to the resolution of Zaya’s fate.
Urshu: Set’s primary architect, and Zaya’s sadistic overlord. As a minor antagonist, he is symbolic of the oppression mortals experience under Set's rule.
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