Recently, notable werewolf films like “The Cursed” (2021) and “Werewolf by Night” (2022) have captured audiences with their quality. The latest addition to this genre comes from Scandinavia – “Viking Wolf,” a Norwegian production directed by Stig Svendsen, starring Liv Mjönes, Elli Rhiannon Müller Osborne, and Arthur Hakalahti. Released just last week on Netflix, the film attempts to bring something fresh to the werewolf narrative.
Liv (Mjönes), a police officer, and her daughter Thale (Osborne) relocate to a small Norwegian town after Liv’s husband’s death. Living with her new husband and deaf daughter, Jenny, Liv’s relationship with Thale becomes strained. Thale’s life takes a dark turn when, during a playdate in the woods, a beast kills one of her schoolmates. The authorities, believing it to be a wild wolf, launch a hunt. Unbeknownst to them, they are dealing with something far from ordinary. Simultaneously, Thale, seemingly bitten, begins displaying unusual and delusional symptoms.
The film opens convincingly with a montage presenting local myths about hellish wolves, transitioning to the main plot set centuries later. Utilizing the stunning landscapes of high mountains, forests, and distinctive beaches, common to Norwegian films like “The Wave” (2015) and “The Quake” (2018), “Viking Wolf” capitalizes on the country’s natural beauty.
While the script lacks freshness, drawing parallels with Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” (1975) throughout the story, the film maintains a quieter tone, focusing on investigations and hunts involving a select few. The climax, although less intense, delivers mystery and exciting action. Thale’s relationship with her stepfather and sister remains relatively unexplored, with the mother-daughter dynamic taking center stage.
Despite its familiar plot, “Viking Wolf” attempts to merge fantasy and horror, incorporating a family theme. A noteworthy aspect is the subtext of conflict between Liv and Thale, echoing the dynamics seen in films like “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” albeit with a different presentation. Thale, feeling neglected by her mother, transforms into a “wild wolf” – a surprising twist, although the ending remains ambiguous. The film excels in portraying the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship with a touch of class. Further exploration of the dramatic elements could have elevated “Viking Wolf” to deliver a more significant surprise.
