Darkly hysterically funny, suspenseful, and moving. Sheer genius.
The Last Viking screens as part of the Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival 2026, more information about the festival is available here:
https://www.palacenova.com.au/events/hurtigruten-nordic-film-festival-2026
Read the Glam Adelaide story about the festival here: Glam Adelaide – Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival 2026
Most prolific as a writer, Anders Thomas Jensen brings us his first directorial outing in five years with The Last Viking, which unsurprisingly he has also written.
This feature starts with a solid thriller foundation in terms of plot. Bank robber, and accused killer, Anker is released from prison after 15 years. He returns to the flat he shared with his older sister Freja, and his troubled younger brother, Manfred. Prior to being arrested Anker gave Manfred instructions to go to their old childhood home in the Danish countryside, and bury the proceeds of the robbery. Now Anker needs Manfred to show him exactly where in the woods he buried the money. The only problem is that Manfred, never the most mentally stable of people, now thinks he is John Lennon and knows nothing about any money. But Anker’s need for the cash is amplified by a very unfriendly visit from his old partner-in-crime, Flemming. So despite the barriers, Anker bundles Manfred/John into the car and drives him out to the old place, now owned by a couple who rent out rooms to holidaymakers. Things get even whackier when a doctor who treated Manfred finds two other psychiatric patients who think they are Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney respectively, and drives them out to the property to join “John” in getting the band back together.
Jensen has crafted a screenplay of rare brilliance. Not simply relying on the “kooky” he delivers very dark, and very funny, black humour, along with some very dark and very moving takes on family trauma and personal identity. There is not a wasted scene or a missed beat in the entire work. This is aided by an absolute gift of a cast. Here are some of Denmark’s finest: Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Anker; the fabulous Nicolas Bro suitably menacing as Flemming; the ubiquitous Søren Malling as home-owner Werner; Sofie Gråbøl as Margrethe; and finally stealing the show, yet somehow never pulling focus, is Mads Mikkelsen as Manfred, surely one of his best roles to date.
The Last Viking will take you on a journey which includes big laughter, suspense, and a touch of the horrific, yet ultimately delivers you to a destination of surprisingly moving redemption.
This film is surely one of this year’s best. Not just in the Nordic Film Festival, but on the world circuit. It is simply a masterpiece.
Rating 5 out of 5
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
