Review of Valhalla Rising (2009) by Dylan C — 15 Oct 2011

A symbolic and ambiguous describe Valhalla Rising as a movie, it is one of those flicks which are really hard to categorize. The mood of the movie is slow, atmospheric and ominous with few violent outburst here and there.

The movie sports hardly a story at all, it sets somewhere in 1000AD Norse and relies heavily on the region's mythology and history. Mads Mikkelsen is the enigmatic One-Eye, an unstoppable warrior who after escaping imprisonment joins a band of newly turned Christians on their way to the Holy Land. During their voyage the group face hardships and in the end come face to face with elusive tribe of barbaric heathen natives. There is hardly any more to the story and the movie leaves much of it for the viewer to fill in, a bit too much for my taste.

Valhalla Rising no doubt divides the viewers heavily into two camps. Either one appreciates the symbolism and atmosphere the movie creates while others no doubt feel the movie rather pointless without proper storyline. Belonging more to the latter group, I believe the the movie would have worked much better with a more action orientated approach. It is great that movies like these get made, the historic take and artistic directing can make a great impact and into a wonderful deep movies, but with Valhalla Rising those are just not enough alone. Without a proper story the movie fails to inspire and is rather meaningless overall.