The Salvation

Long live the modern western for still being alive. It might be somewhat surprising that this is a film from a Danish-British-South African co-production, but it doesn't change the fact that it's an excellent, gritty spectacle about revenge. And you'd think films like this would have run out of steam. They didn't, and Mads is great as a cowboy and a proper tough guy. (10/18/2014)

A Danish minimalist western with the excellent Mikkelsen. In places, Levring quotes Leone verbatim, not hesitating even to give greater dimension to the characters, perhaps with a touching memory. The straightforward story with a bloody climax will please fans of this genre. The juicy acting performances (Pryce is perfect in the coffin) enhance the terrifying atmosphere of fear. It’s just a shame that Eva doesn’t have much to say and doesn’t come across as particularly sexy. Why couldn’t Jonah Hex have turned out like this? (01/02/2020)

Film challenge in quarantine - favorite actress, Eva Green. I was just recently talking to a friend about the fact that the western genre has been one of the most neglected in recent years, if not the most neglected at all, or cinemas are not flooded with this genre as opposed to sci-fi, fantasy, or cheesy romances. That's why I enjoyed this Danish delicacy even more. After all, what other country could tackle it than Denmark, which can produce quality films of any genre, although of course I must not forget that it is a co-production film, so it is not purely a Danish matter. And my favorite actress? Even though the story does not revolve around her and her character, the focus is on Mads Mikkelsen, or rather Jeffrey Dean Morgan (excellent!), but which other actress would play the role of a Princess in such a context? Only Eva! At least I had the honor of seeing her without being undressed and speechless. And yet she managed to do her best and play beautifully with her eyes - someone once told me that I should watch the eyes of actors and actresses, that's how you can tell the professionals from the amateurs. And Eva always plays in the first league. It still holds true that for me, as one of the few or maybe the only one, she embodies the concept of perverse beauty... (04/19/2020)

A raw western, quiet and uncompromising like most of its characters. The only thing missing to make it perfect was to finish telling something - especially the brother's part of the story. Otherwise, of course, no reservations. Especially the final shootout was excellent and full of great ideas, but even until then there was still something interesting going on, the film basically didn't slow down from the opening credits, Mads Mikkelsen was damn charismatic and Eva Green in a silent role said it all with one look.___P.S. The reference to Once Upon a Time in the West in the kerosene lamp scene made me very happy. (10/03/2015)

I truly expected something deeper from the Danes than a revenge shoot ’em up with Bay-esque circling cameras and ostentatiously painted panoramas and digital fire. But it was actually entertaining, as the all-telling looks of Mikkelsen and Eva Green gave the film a dose of fatefulness even without speaking. (09/07/2020)