‘Bilal’ finally stampedes into theaters — and it has some spirit

“Bilal: A New Breed of Hero” begins with the least subtle of metaphors — a stampeding equine hell-beast crushing a blossoming flower.

That’s just a small taste of the suffering ahead. The animated historical action film, first released overseas in 2015 and just making its way into U.S. theaters, falls somewhere between “Braveheart” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” on the on-screen torture scale. Woe to the “Paddington 2” fan who brings a young child to this PG-13 film, foolishly assuming that it’s animated and therefore must be a delightful romp for kids.

But there are positives to be found in this unusual film, which was delayed into arguably the least desired cinematic release date of the year.