demide

Valhalla Rising is a revelation of a movie. That said, it is far from an easy-watch. The slow pace, the visual blank space, the lunar ebb and flow of Refn's imagining, require the viewer to slow down and devote 1h and 30 mins to becoming a passive observer. This is not an action movie, or a who dunnit, or a character study. It has elements of the above, yet it is truly a spiritual exploration, a stunning folk story capture in film. Mikkelsen's presence is pure charisma, shining as the hero, the villain, occasionally gracefully fading into the background when need be. The character dynamics powerful, the mood repressive and yet up-lifting. With the addition of the breath-taking Nordic backdrops and an evocative soundtrack, this is a must-watch.