Well, as a listener of metal for more than 30+ years, of course the tragic story of of Dead, Euronymous, Varg and the other people involved in the events that shook a nation in the early 1990s wasn't exactly unfamiliar territory to me. However, I wasn't aware that they had actually turned it into a movie. It was by sheer random luck that I happened to come across the 2018 movie from director Jonas Åkerlund here in 2020. And of course, this was a movie that I had to sit down and watch.
First of all, I have to say that I don't understand why director Jonas Åkerlund opted to go for an English speaking direction of the movie. It just took away so much authenticity from the movie that everyone were speaking English and the fact that most of them weren't even Norwegian or Swedish actors. That was a shame, because had it been in Norwegian and with a native Norwegian and Swedish cast, this would have been so much more impacting.
And also I happened to cringe when I saw that the movie was fronted by Rory Culkin. A Culkin in a movie such as this; surely that seemed like an atrocity in its own. But I was put to shame, because Rory Culkin walked tall and carried the movie phenomenally with his performance. I was more than genuinely surprised with how he handled this performance, it was just spectacular. Color me more than impressed with Rory Culkin in this movie.
Now, the story told in "Lords of Chaos" is a brutal story that is based on true events, real people and actual happenings. Which just makes it all the more hard-hitting. So the movie might not just be suitable for just anyone in the audience.
The narrative drive in the storyline was good, and while the movie ran for about two hours, it never really felt slow or uneventful. And that was a great accomplishment for director Jonas Åkerlund. However, one might debate whether or not a story as tragic and, well outright insane, as the story was is suitable entertainment for a movie. But, of course, that boils down to a matter of preference. Personally, I think the narrative was delivered quite well, and the story was presented in a very acceptable and fulfilling manner.
The movie also offers some insight into the early beginning of the black metal scene, and also delves into the elements of Euronymous's talents in terms of running a record store and a music label.
Whether or not you are interested in Norwegian black metal, the tragedy that struck Mayhem and the black metal community, then "Lords of Chaos" is a movie that definitely is noteworthy, because it has such a powerful punch to it. Definitely a movie that is well-worth taking the time and effort to sit down and watch. Just a shame that they didn't go for authenticity in terms of language and performers.
I was more than adequately entertained by this 2018 movie, and my rating is a seven out of ten stars.
