Friday 23 April 2010

Valhalla Rising

Valhalla Rising Explained

Death has dominion over this nauseating Nordic blood bath of a movie.


Just as last year's Bronson was a huge step forward for Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, from his Pusher trilogy, so too is Valhalla Rising a definitive progression in the forging of his identity as an auteur (Drive really confirms his skill). The tension of this slow moving story, punctuated with explosions of ultra violence and fountains of blood, is heart stopping. The dialogue is sparse; the protagonist is a mute Viking slave who has killed his masters and is accompanied only by a young boy who speaks on his behalf.

The film is set against dark and ominous Scottish Highlands occupied by Nordic pagans whose way of life is threatened by the spread of Christianity. A group of Christian Vikings find the pair and see the benefit of bringing the one eyed slave bezerker on a journey to Jerusalem for the first Crusade. After they embark, the Christians suspect that a mysterious fog that impairs navigation is a curse brought upon them by the pagan slave. He is too powerful to kill and at any point in the film when he is challenged there follows a gory scene with lashings of crimson and the barbaric sounds of axe cleaving flesh and splintering bone.

Without a background knowledge of the subject matter, the plot may seem far fetched and the violence gratuitous. It is remarkable that in fact every aspect of the film; from the decapitation of a chieftain whose head is then placed on a pole (a magic rite to pagan vikings), to the accidental discovery of Canada hundreds of years before Columbus, were things that actually happened. All the activities of these fictional characters are based on archaeological and mythological sources.

The linear story of an escaped slave finding salvation amongst Christians is brought into question. The slave never confirms his beliefs and is content to kill the Christians at the first sign of aggression. The name of the pagan protagonist is One-eye, a Viking nickname for their God of war Odin. When questioned by the Christians as to the origins of the slave, the boy responds, "he was brought up from hell." It seems that One-eye is more symbol than character. His emotions and intentions are never made clear. He is a source of fear for the Christians who mistake Canada for Hell, believing the pagan slave has led them there using magic. But he is also a guardian figure who takes the boy under his wing after killing the rest of his tribe.

The film explores the complex issues of cultural and spiritual conflict that were being played out in Europe 1000 years ago. The Christianisation of Europe, the slaughter of the pagans, followed swiftly by the first crusade and the slaughter of Muslims in the holy land are all addressed. While in Europe the pagans are said to live on "the edge of the world," hunted and killed in their thousands, in Canada the tables are turned and the pagan Indians hunt the Christians. The Viking landings in the new world ended badly and foreshadowed the colonisation of the Americas 500 years later. The repeating shots of crosses from obscure angles cut with One-eye's premonitions of extreme violence seem to be a message of the danger of Christianity. The Christian Viking leader's maniacal screams about "My new Jerusalem!" echo those of the early Christian settlers of America who made similar declarations before slaughtering native Americans.

The appeal of this movie for most will not be the spiritual message nor will it be the un-hurried cinematography and beautiful shots of the Scottish highlands. It will be violence. There is no denying the violent scenes are shockingly graphic, but they are too sparse to hold the attention of the average sociopathic gore-hound. Some sections are extremely drawn out and confusing, including a scene in which one viking inexplicably rapes another whilst under the influence of a hallucinogenic narcotic. Nothing is explicitly explained in the film. For some this will make the challenging story more intriguing, for others it will be simply bewildering.




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29 comments:

MrsT said...

Scottish Highlands? Where does it say that? It's probably much more likely that is is a VIKING country like Norway or Sweden.

"A group of Christian Vikings." Christian... Vikings? What have you been smoking?

Odin, God of War? Come on man....

Dont quit your dayjob to write about movies...

Survive the Jive said...

It says that at the beginning. The highlands of Scotland were occupied by Vikings at that time. They dominated the Northern isles and the coast lines as well and much of Eastern ireland too.

And many were Christian by the time of the first crusade. Many who settled in celtic lands did convert to Christianity, like those in the movie. the word vikling means raider, not all pagans were raiers and not all raiders were pagan.

Kingerz said...

This is a very deep and complex metaphorical film and anyone criticising it in a superficial manner really seems like they need to go and watch the latest Hollywood Alien Guys with Guns vs Aliens show instead. FYI, Vikings settled in the North of the UK and were later Christianised. In fact their culture merged with mainstream later. Their language even became part of what is now English. Ever heard of Wednesday (Wodin's Day), Thursday (Thor's Day) or Friday (Frigga's Day? One-eye is very clearly an Odin archetype. That Norse God sacrificed an eye for knowledge of the Cosmos, as shown in One Eye's premonitions.

Survive the Jive said...

Hi Kingerz55

I agree with your analysis of the film. And you are correct - english borrows about 2000 words from Old Norse. But the English days of the week are not derived from old norse at all! Woden is the English name for Odin, and the English were worshipping those same Gods centuries before the viking age had even begun.

Rich said...

Cool movie, just finished watching it. Was a little unsure about the ending - why were the natives killing off everyone but left the kid alone? Oh, well, I suppose they wanted to leave it open to interpretation. Thanks for the review.

review said...

I just watched the movie and I'm a bit confused but on the other hand I'm indifferent
I cannot see a bigger picture and a higher meaning behind this movie

it looks like the one-eyed sacrifice himself to rescue the boy, there are so many things left unclear, however it doesn't really provoke me to ponder about it

the movie tries hard to intrigue you, but I'm not sure if that is accomplished

Anonymous said...

Although a lot of what you've said is allowed to propagate itself in western classrooms, your ignorance of history and norse mythology really weakens your film critic.

Survive the Jive said...

I have a Masters degree on the subject medieval history with focus on Germanic paganism. If you wish to label me ignorant, you should at least specify exactly what it is you think is wrong and why.....

Anonymous said...

Great review,and awesome movie!

Creatureofduty said...

About the grimmest thing I've ever seen; very interesting. Pulls you into its pace and mysticism.

Anonymous said...

A lot of bullshit comments for a very decent review.

Jake said...

This has been the best Viking's to the new land film I have seen to date. The subject has not been broached by Hollywood in any cool and interesting way yet and this, however, metaphysical, has been the best thus far for me.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Very informative and interesting review. Nice to hear reviews like this from people well versed in history and mythology. I wish I had read this review before watching the movie.

Lambroliscious said...

Great review

Anonymous said...

The Christian god was made flesh and was sacrificed as Jesus, Odin was made flesh as the rewardingly enigmatic One-eye. Hence the resurrection-like image at films end. Pretty clear, and totally absorbing.

Anonymous said...

Just watched the Film on BBC IPlayer and what a brilliant summation from the author of this post.

Anonymous said...

Wow mrsT is a dumb cunt. Hes spot on with his explanation

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the review. I think I got the basic gist of it but your review was concise and helpful. I was a bit confused about a few things. Maybe you could explain. One was after they had drank the hallucinogen. Was that a rape? I couldn't tell what was going on. Who was involved in that. All I could tell was that someone was getting smashed into the mud. Next, I was wondering about the guy who was covered in mud. Not the red images in One eyes premonitions or visions... But it was the man who the Christian leader was saying "you will be my spiritual advisor in my new Jerusalem" (or something of the sort). Then the guy in reddish mud starts laughing. He looked much like the natives at the end.. But was a European. Any idea who that was and what his purpose was in the movie?

Great review... and I really liked the cerebral nature of the flick.. Music was awesome and inspiring especially the use of the Jews Harp and similar sounding instruments.

Unknown said...

Entertaining film. This analysis is rough, but some good insights. The Vikings weren't Christian. The New World wasn't conquered for the "Christian god", but for the promise of land, gold and glory.

Anonymous said...

He's right on about the entire interpretation and geography. You should really consider pulling your head out of your ass and actually watching the movie. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Anonymous said...

You have to do more than use the word propagate to seem like you know what you're talking about. Choke yourself.

Anonymous said...

MrsT, is that you?

Anonymous said...

It doesn't explicitly show that one eye dies at the end, I think he took a beating, but survived... There would be no point in sacrificing himself, as the kid could not survive alone. The susposed 'reseruction' scene at the end, could show one eye alive, and dressed in mud war paint as the locals wear.

Anonymous said...

Just to make my point above clear, what I'm suggesting is that one eye, by not fighting, submitted to the locals, and thus, after a beating, was allowed to live. Anyway, that's my take on the ending.

Anonymous said...

BTW, I think the blonde boy was a fellow captive, not a member of the tribe, so one eye did not kill his tribe. The boy says his people live far away. Also, he has to do the dangerous task of feeding and getting in the cadge with one eye to chain him, so not something you'd ask someone to do if you want them to live, lol. And any child of the tribe would be precious on some level at least. Also, if the boy really was one of one eyes sworn enemies, he would have killed him too, he's not the forgiving sort.

Unknown said...

Christian Vikings and Scottish highlands had me laughing a teenager would think this guy is speaking intelligently but no one else would

Survive the Jive said...

@Unknown

LOL you must be really stupid if you have seen the film! They are constantly talking about Christ and founding a new Jerusalem! Did you not notice? Also it even says on the cover of the dvd that it is set in scotland and canada! You have no business judging who is and isn't intelligent

Unknown said...

Spend a wee bit of time in Scotland, learn some British history, and every bit of the film will make sense.
Good review, by the way.