Scandinavia, 1,000 AD. For years, One Eye, a mute warrior of supernatural strength, has been held prisoner by the Norse chieftain Barde. Aided by Are, a boy slave, One Eye slays his captor and together he and Are escape, beginning a journey into the heart of darkness. On their flight, One Eye and Are board a Viking vessel, but the ship is soon engulfed by an endless fog that clears only as the crew sights an unknown land. As the new world reveals its secrets and the Vikings confront their terrible and bloody fate, One Eye discovers his true self.
Cinematography
Every shot could hang in a gallery. Or a morgue.
Acting
Mikkelsen never speaks. Says everything with murder-eyes.
Score
Drone noise that crawls under your skin permanently.
Director
Nicolas Winding Refn
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Refn called this his 'space movie'—intentionally stripped Vikings of heroism to create pure atmosphere.
The 'New World' sequence was filmed in Scotland because the terrain felt 'alien enough to be Hell'—the crew got actual hypothermia for authenticity.
DK
GB
