Film Review: Valhalla Rising (2009)

One-Eye’s often grim visions of the future artfully make use of colour.

★★★½☆☆

Please note this review contains spoilers.

Valhalla Rising is a visually stunning film, with Mads Mikkelsen’s fantastic silent performance at its centre.

An eerie orange palette highlights the uncertainty as the characters cross the ocean.

The use of colour and framing is masterful — from the dreary tones of the Norse landscapes, to the deep high contrast reds of One-Eye’s visions, the eerie orange fog while the Christians sail to what they believe to be Jerusalem. The film well makes use of its different palettes, each shot feels meticulously crafted to bring about the sense of foreboding that is so prevalent in this film.

Mikkelsen’s performance is sublime. Portraying the character of One-Eye, a mute slave, he doesn’t speak a single word through the film but it’s often easy enough to understand what he doesn’t speak (at least, until the end). He has a wise and mysterious vibe to him that never wavers and remains interesting throughout. Mikkelsen’s subtle but effective acting is certainly to be praised.

A dreary look at what the Vikings believe may be Hell.