Valhalla Rising 2009
Nicolas Winding Refn's Valhalla Rising (2009) plunges viewers into the frozen, myth-suffused wilderness of Scandinavia around 1,000 AD, where a towering mute warrior known only as One Eye escapes bondage under a Norse chieftain with the help of a young slave.
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast
Mads Mikkelsen
One-Eye
Gary Lewis
Kare
Jamie Sives
Gorm
Ewan Stewart
Eirik
Alexander Morton
Barde
Callum Mitchell
Pagan Viking Guard
Andrew Flanagan
Duggal
Douglas Russell
Olaf
Maarten Stevenson
Are / The Boy
Gordon Brown
Hagen
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Valhalla Rising (2009) about?
Set in 1,000 AD Scandinavia, the film follows a mute, supernaturally strong warrior called One Eye who breaks free from captivity with a boy slave named Are. Their escape aboard a Viking ship turns into a harrowing voyage when supernatural fog carries them to an unknown land, where ancient secrets and primal fears await.
Who directed Valhalla Rising?
Nicolas Winding Refn, the Danish auteur behind Drive and The Neon Demon, directs Valhalla Rising with a visually arresting, minimalist approach that amplifies its mythic weight.
Who stars in Valhalla Rising?
The film stars Mads Mikkelsen as One Eye, alongside Gary Lewis, Jamie Sives, Ewan Stewart, and Alexander Morton in pivotal roles.
Is Valhalla Rising (2009) worth watching?
Valhalla Rising stands out as a visually hypnotic, dialogue-sparse adventure that rewards patient viewers with its stark beauty and mythic resonance. While its slow-burn pace isn't for everyone, its atmospheric intensity and Mikkelsen's commanding presence make it a memorable experience.
How long is Valhalla Rising?
Valhalla Rising has a runtime of 93 minutes.
🎥 Trailer
About Valhalla Rising (2009) — One-Eyed Warrior's Haunting Viking Odyssey
Nicolas Winding Refn's Valhalla Rising (2009) plunges viewers into the frozen, myth-suffused wilderness of Scandinavia around 1,000 AD, where a towering mute warrior known only as One Eye escapes bondage under a Norse chieftain with the help of a young slave. Their flight aboard a Viking longship becomes an odyssey into uncharted terrors when an unrelenting fog swallows the vessel, only to deposit its crew on a distant coast that seems to breathe with unknown menace. As fog-bound horizons give way to raw, untamed landscapes, One Eye's supernatural strength and eerie detachment collide with the Vikings' primal fears, forging a haunting meditation on destiny, violence, and the thin veil between legend and reality.
Told in near-silence with visceral bursts of action, Refn crafts an atmospheric fable where every frame crackles with dread and beauty. Mads Mikkelsen's imposing, wordless performance anchors a story that feels like a Norse ghost story stitched together with the raw energy of a survival epic, leaving audiences to wonder whether the journey ends in discovery—or damnation.
