Review of Valhalla Rising (2009) by Bishaldeb H — 20 May 2011
The highlights of this film are the astonishing photography, the breathtakingly beautiful and harsh scenery of the Scottish Highlands and the sparse, but painstakingly real depiction of medieval savagery.
It employs a lot of postmodern narrative devices, unusual for a historical film: almost completely handheld photography, metallic red filters, scarce dialogue, stylised slow motion, a hellish BG score alternating with deliberately muted sequences.
It aims to explore the concepts of faith, religion and God, through violence, but is ultimately as abstract and nebulous as the swirling Scottish mists. A fascinating, though sometimes, frustrating experience.
This review of Valhalla Rising (2009) was written by Bishaldeb H on 20 May 2011.
Valhalla Rising has generally received mixed reviews.
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