Valhalla Rising review

"Valhalla Rising" is not a battle movie. It's not really an action or adventure movie either. It's a strong mediation about violence, the unknown, spirituality and humanity. While at times co-writer and director Nicolas Winding Refn tends to perhaps get a bit pretentious with certain elements, still he has crafted an impressive and daring experimental picture.



Mads Mikkelsen ( best known in the states for 'Casino Royale' and 'Clash of the Titans') plays One eye, the mute slave. His origins are unknown and even more mysterious is the way he possibly conducts conversations through other people. As a slave he is caged most of the time and fed by a young boy and when that's not happening he's placed into fights with other slaves. He always wins. In the few pieces of dialogue we hear that many men think that he is from hell. I can't say if he is or isn't, but there is much going on in his mind that we see throughout the chapters of the film that would at the least explain that he's slightly more or less human. Eventually he escapes and meets up with a group of Christians that plan to go to the Holy Land and 'take it back'. They offer One Eye as well as the boy a chance to come along with them. This essentially places them on a foggy descent into madness and hell.

I have to stress that 'Valhalla Rising' is far from something for everyone. There's not much dialogue, the violence isn't stylized but instead is just straight gruesome and it's not a paint by numbers film. For these reasons the film is also outstanding and will hopefully catch on with viewers looking for something different. The biggest star is the overall atmosphere of mystery and dread that's soaked over the characters and their journey. The scenery (which is completely Scotland) is mystifying and dangerous, helping to really deliver the kind of backdrop this story needs. The music is a percussion based blend of electronics and mild symphony. It's at times hypnotic, other times haunting and maddening; PERFECT for the story. And as we all know, I do love me some complete technical movie packages.

The longest piece of the film is probably the fog shrouded boat ride. They're blind and lacking wind for days on end while out of food and water. Some of the men believe it's a curse brought on by the two new members; some even saying that One Eye was leading them into hell. The sequence plays like a stage play with all the claustrophobic pieces fully intact and bold, unsettling imagery. Once they reach land it's discovered that they haven't landed in Jerusalem, but instead somewhere in North America. Again all the scenery is astonishing in it's mysterious beauty and horrors; add to that the over tension and the acts taken out by some of these men and you've got a recipe for a really interesting finale to a film like this.

It pleases me so much to see something like this that is more of a Werner Herzog or Terrence Malik piece than a Zack Snyder piece. Nothing against him or those kind of films, but during these summer months it's been hard finding stand out films like this that work on all these levels. Honestly this is a tough film to write about though simply because it's ideas might be subjective to the viewer thus my reaction and feelings could be far different from yours. Regardless of that though is the fact that it does make the viewer think and that's always a good thing. "Valhalla Rising" should start making little theatrical rounds starting on July 23rd and then possibly expanding it's release after that. Hopefully I'll have to chance to to see it theatrically and see how the experience differs from seeing it at home, but as it stands this is one of the best films I've seen all year and definitely an art picture to check out.