Movie Review: The Hammer of the Gods

Hammer of the Gods
Starring: Charlie Bewley, Elliot Cowan, Clive Standen, Guy Flanagan, Michael Jibson, Glynis Barber, James Cosmo
Director: Farren Blackburn
Vertigo Films, United Kingdom, 2013

It is year 871 and Vikings and Saxons are at war in Britain. Prince Steinar (Charlie Bewley) comes to help his father Bagsecg (James Cosmo). King Bacsecg is dying and his sons Steinar and Harold (Finlay Robertson) arguing over throne. King asks Steinar to find the exiled oldest brother Hakan to decide the new king. Steinar goes to search for him with his friend Hagen (Clive Standen), psychopathic Grim (Michael Jibson), mystic Jokul (Guy Flanagan) and his cowardly half-brother Vali (Theo Barklem-Biggs). In the mean time Harold is secretly negotiating with Saxons.

Steinar and his warriors arrive in Britain

Fierce viking action

To find Hakan Steinar must first find perverted warrior Ivar. After losing hand wrestling match, Ivar decides to guide the group to Hakan. As the journey continues Ulric the Chronicler captures Steinar and the rest and then everyone gets body painted. The film turns more and more into Apocalypse Now, when Hakan (Elliot Gowan) appears he even looks a bit like Marlon Brando!

It's Kurtz, I mean Hakon

Everyone gets body painted

The action is dark and brutal. Some of the ideas in the story are good but the film fails too often and also does not entertain enough. There are many better medieval action films around. Cinematography is okay and music is mostly electro with drum'n'bass influences. The viking setting is used very lightly and the film could as well use any medieval factions.

Who's the king now?!!

Rating: Bad