Villmark

I have just finished watching Villmark (Dark Woods) on DVD. A friend of mine has had the movie for quite a long time, and even though Norwegian media gave the movie a very good rating, I've always been reluctant to watch Norwegian movies. They tend to get overrated in the media since Norway don't produce that many movies.

But this movie was well worth the time, and it surprised me in a good way. The location for the movie is great, it's an average looking Norwegian forest, and that just bring more to the "horror" part, since most Norwegians are familiar with hiking in the wilderness. You will have this movie in the back of your head the next time you're in the forests.

You are also kept in suspense throughout the whole movie, always expecting something to jump out from the shadows, which happens a few times, and scares you good. As for the acting, these are all more or less top actors in Norway, some more seasoned that others. And overall they do a very good job at it. It's not Oscar material but it's very satisfactory.

Villmark is worth viewing but I agree with others that it could have been much better. It left me still asking questions at the end: was it the German tourist or the father (Nazi pilot?) It was ridiculous when you learn the man just, "goes insane," after his wife dies and is expected to be the killer. I am still confused. Why would the father start killing everyone anyway; if he is, in fact, the killer and not the son? And if he is, why is the son the one that gets caught at the end attempting to kill everyone??? WTF. Also what's with the creepy, mysterious attitude of Gunnar and the tape recordings? "Don't go to the lake" and what not- no resolution what so ever. Watching this made me ask a lot of questions, most of which weren't resolved. Also is there any point to having a Swede, speaking Swedish, and an Indian in the cast? Is this Norwegian affirmative action? Please don't tell me it's bad to be a Norwegian in Norway now.

I think the hype of this film is the result of attempting to make a film like this in Norway, however it is still disappointing.

Nice camera work and acting, it was scary at times and funny but it's just another poor attempt at suspense. Too bad, Joner, Floberg and Norway are better than this.

Villmark does a lot of things right. The setting works well, and the back story that is gradually revealed is OK. I quite liked the idea of the reality show producer who wants his crew to be to handle what the contestants are to go through. The characters work alright, even if they aren't that interesting.

It seems from the DVD that they struggled a bit with finding a good way to end the movie, and while the one they chose was better than some of their other suggestions - it was still really bad. The last revelation makes no sense. I can see them wanting to open up for the possibility for a sequel (hey, one is coming this year!), but this was not the way to do it.

This is indeed a very good movie, not only because I love Kristoffer Joners acting, but also because the movie is shot very well, the Norwegian nature is wonderful as always (Yeah, I'm a fan of my own nature. Shoot me) and this movie portraits it well. What I like the most is that to me, the actors play in such a way that makes you feel a part of it, as if you were there when it all happened. I guess the fact that they're all talking in Norwegian makes me relate more to the movie than foreigners, but I don't see why anyone else shouldn't feel the same way, no matter where they're from.

9/10, because it could have been more scary, although the strong acting, the camera-work, the cinematography and the tension leaves me to think that this is one of the best Norwegian movies ever... Apart from Elling, of course.

"Villmark" is a pretty good Norwegian horror.It manages to be both interesting and suspenseful,so I enjoyed it.A five people go along on a trip with two leaders into the wilderness.One day,two of the guys are sent out by the group leader Gunnar to go fish in a stream.In a nearby lake they find a drowned body of young woman.Soon they are all stalked by something evil lurking in the dark woods."Villmark" is a creepy and suspenseful horror film.The photography of dark Norwegian woods is astounding and creates a feeling of total dread and hopelessness.The soundtrack is really eerie and the acting is excellent.There is not much gore,but I don't care.Overall,"Villmark" is an enjoyable piece of horror that creeped me out.Highly recommended.