Lords of Chaos

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.

What I mean by my title is that I am not too familiar with the real story, and I have seen a lot of reviews on here bashing the movie for not being true to reality. I understand where they are coming from but as someone who knows only surface level stuff about Mayhem, I will review this movie just from a movie perspective, no bias over real events.

So, just by looking a this movie as a film, I enjoyed it quite a bit! I thought that the story was intriguing and sad, and I found myself very engaged with what I was watching. There were three scenes in particular that really stood out and shocked me. I thought they were relatively realistic and very emotional, but what really stood out to me was the performance by Rory Culkin. I think he was absolutely fantastic in this role and I can't wait to see what else he is going to be in in the future.

Overall, it is far from a perfect movie but for what it is it is sad, entertaining, brutal and emotional with a standout performance by Rory.

Some will like this for what it is, a well done biopic, but one things for sure - the whole Norwegian Black Metal scene will hate this movie, or at least all the true necro grim Black Metal elitists. Having read the book this movie is based on before there was even talk about a movie, I am happy to see it didn't disappoint. I expected no masterpiece that would be lauded as the best musical biopic of the year, but I'm glad it turned out better than expected.

This is not a movie for Metal heads only. If you like controversial figures and want to know about the history of Mayhem and what happened a long time ago to a bunch of kids as well as hear a decent soundtrack, go for it. The actors did a well enough job and it stayed almost entirely true to the book by the same title. If you can't bother to read it, watch it. And, Varg was portrayed probably better than he deserved, but so did everyone. Light a few black candles and let the mayhem begin!

The title says it all. I find when people say this didn't happen this way or that way, this part isn't true, etc I like to think "how would you know"? The director (Jonas Åkerlund) of the film ran in the same circles at the time. He was in black/viking metal band called Bathory from 1983-1984 era. He knew these guys. So if anyone knows most of what actually happened, Jonas is the guy. Plus, I find if Varg didn't like it & says it's untrue then it's no doubt the opposite .

I was not expecting to like this movie as much as I did. I didn't really know what to expect, to a great extent. I was shocked at how well it was put together. LOC is a very engaging, if compelling film about a bunch of true Norwegian black metal guys who founded the band Mayham, fanatics who cause it too, in little old Oslo. It's very well acted with some disturbing themes. One involving a candid suicide, another involving a random bloody murder, & another horrific murder of betrayal. LOC kills on all levels. Confrontingly violent, well scripted, & very well acted. Jack Kilmer's (Dead) short lived role, is hauntingly brilliant! Rory Culkin's (Oystein) performance is shockingly impressive. And the unhinged Varg, played superbly by Emory Cohen. His acting stuck with me. There were some powerful moments that truly unnerved me. He's a great acting force to be reckoned with. This is an important film with a so tragic, & violent ending. In ill respect, the film is very funny too, & the music is of course well suited.

Overall, it's a well-acted, directed & produced film, & a faithful depiction of the events that transpired. I highly recommend it.

This works great as a parody. What is presented here has nothing to do with the real events, most characters are straight out of an American teen movie, every character is completely different from the real life version in everything (looks, behavior) and the story is insultingly false. The book was already bad, the movie is about 100 times worse. No band gave the rights to its music, even bands that had no real involvement in the true events that the movie is trying, and failing spectacularly, to portray. I love the few good reviews and the downvoting of the one negative review that says the truth, the movie will bomb either way. If you want to see an American teen movie with romance, sex, American humor and a bit of fake drama then this is for you. If you want to see a serious drama based on tragic events then avoid it like the plague.