[Note: I wrote this review some time last year. I posted it in a few places on social media, but didn't seem to make much of an impact. Since this is a blog, I thought 'why not post it here?' So that's what I'm doing. You've probably figured that out by now, I'm sure.]
**May contain spoilers.**
The review:
First off, as much as it pains me to say it... this was a pretty good film, as far as movies go.
It basically follows the story of Mayhem's early days, focusing on the drama between Euronymous and Varg Vikernes, and the now legendary antics of the formative stages of the Norwegian Black Metal scene.
Those of us who are really part of the Black Metal scene, and who have been following it for some time, are probably able to separate the fact from fantasy presented in this film. Although it does follow the basic timeline of events most of us are already familiar with, it nevertheless takes liberties by speculating on personal aspects of the individuals in question.
This is probably done for the sake of the film, however, in order to make it interesting and captivate an audience.
“I really liked looking at Varg as a shy kid who wanted to play Legos with the other boys. The scene where Varg is just at the party, and he’s watching everyone. I remember thinking about what it was like going to a new school for the first day, and watching all the other kids play, and wanting to make friends, but not knowing the rules. He didn’t know the rules.” - (Actor Emory Cohen, on playing Varg Vikernes)
For instance (
**POSSIBLE SPOILER**), one of the first things I noticed (which irritated me) was a concerted effort to make Varg appear like a little bitch, a poseur trying to suck up to Euronymous. After a while though, I realized this was probably done for effect (e.g., character development), as by the end of the movie the role was flipped, with Euronymous becoming an increasingly pitiful and tragic characterization in the moments leading up to his death.
What the movie does highlight, and accurately portray (in my opinion) is a level of immaturity in the scene at this time, something which I have been thinking about a lot lately as I revisit the literature about it.
Many of the destructive events which occurred during this period seem to have often been impulsive actions fueled by a loose (but intense) ideology, which itself had not yet properly developed into anything coherent or sustainable. From what I've read, the movie's portrayal of the attitude of the "Black Circle" is, at very least, half correct. It is also safe to say that a lot has probably been lost in translation along the way, as it is clear to anyone who knows, that the individuals involved were not total imbeciles, fools, or plain idiots... even if they ended up doing some foolish and idiotic things. With this in mind, I cannot fully endorse the film as an entirely accurate representation of the events, or mentality of the Norwegian Black Metal scene at that time; although it is still entertaining, which is probably the main objective.
(Rory Culkin as Euronymous)
Story-wise, the film is captivating enough, and holds the viewer's attention. I was disappointed that more of the bands weren't involved in the story, bands like Darkthrone (who arguably made the first actual Norwegian Black Metal record), and Emperor. In the case of the latter, Bard "Faust" Eithun does have a bit of a central role (as well as other recognizable portrayals such as Metalion, Snorre Ruch, and Attila Csihar on the periphery), but there were many other now-famous individuals who had a part in the "Black Circle" antics which were, unfortunately left out. As such, it's a bit of a fragmented tale.
One of the things I really enjoyed about the whole movie is the way it was shot. It has a bit of a vintage feel, and really gives a sense of the Norwegian geographic- and social-atmosphere, albeit subtly.
In conclusion, it is a film worth seeing for any Black Metal practitioner or fan, keeping in mind that some of it may come off as entirely frustrating at times due to how the story is being told. My concern, however, is that the film may influence the easily-impressionable, and less mature people within the scene, to attempt to re-inact or resurrect this type of mentality which led to such crimes.
The recent spate of church burnings after the release of this film is an indication of such immature behavior, in my opinion. Copycat-crimes of this nature are certainly indicative of trendiness, a lack of thinking for oneself, and inherently NOT Black Metal. If you weren't burning churches, etc., before the damn movie, doing so after the fact only reveals how much of a trendy follower you really are. Personally, I can only hold such actions in strictest contempt. Either you think for yourself, or you don't think at all.
("We'll make our own subculture, with black-jack and hookers!")
Whether or not Euronymous had a bit of an inner struggle with all of this... nobody really knows (although the movie does speculate upon this). Many of the pioneers of this movement who were involved in these crimes (which were committed in their adolescene, I might add) have long since evolved in their outlook, and matured in their perspectives while continuing to remain as extreme in their views as they ever were.
So, for people new to Black Metal, or who are interested in these events, they should probably read the book "Lords of Chaos" first, (among others, such as those by Dayal Patterson) in order to form an objective opinion, before getting swept up in the atmosphere of the movie, which only tells part of the story anyway, in an incomplete fashion.
Watch the movie for free at.... just kidding.
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