The Last Viking

[Showtimes and trailer at Tropiccinema.com]

“The Last Viking” by Anders Thomas Jensen is macabre, unusual and startling. Its somewhat grotesque handling may divide audiences but its sardonic apprehension is reminiscent of Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), and a singular eccentric performance by Mads Mikkelsen compels.

Anker (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is a criminal about to serve a 15 year sentence . He lives with his fanciful, emotionally disturbed brother Manfred (Mads Mikkelsen). Anker gives Manfred a key to a great amount of money that Anker has hidde, but Manfred forgets the location.

When Anker returns from prison, Manfred has entered a new psychological state, believing himself to be John Lennon.

Manfred has an unfortunate fetish for stealing peoples pets because Manfred‘s dog was killed by his harsh and violent father (Lars Ranthe).

Anker runs into a sadistic thug Flemming (Nicolas Bro) who wants Anker’s money. During a night out, Anker meets psychiatrist Lothar (Lars Brygmann) who strives to let Manfred act out his Lennon persona in an effort to cure him. Several of Anker’s friends are George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

In midst of this, Anker’s sister Freja (Bodil Jørgensen), gets violently assaulted and tortured.

The gore is not for the faint.

Though the violence quotient is above the norm, Mads Mikkelson’s performance is poetic and sensitive, illustrating a sensitive organic being who is pacifist and lives completely in his head and in many ways is still a child.

Vikings are Manfred’s guardians. There are touches of Monty Python here too. Comedy aficionados, might think of “The Rutles” during the musical passages not to mention “A Fish Called Wanda” in Manfred’s love for dogs.

What is highlighted more than the blood, is the bond Manfred shares with his brother, an ultimate defense against their psychotic father.

While some segments are jarring and gruesome, the film illustrates the power of the imagination and fantasy in transcending violence.

Write Ian at ianfree1@icloud.com

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