The Trip

Check it out, it's really funny, he said. And although it's not a comedy the way I normally think of them, he was right. The comic aspect here, among other things, works brilliantly. The characters are likable and lukewarm at the same time, making for a rather unique spectacle that you definitely don't want to walk away from. (2021-12-14)

An excellent film that will have you laughing out loud, unless you’re a sensitive person in which case it’ll make you sick to your stomach. The Norwegian filmmakers went all out and punched up what could have been a run-of-the-mill home invasion so well that it would make even Quentin Tarantino proud. But he probably would have wished there were two hours more of talking:-) It was a very violent film, parts of human anatomy were cruelly cut, stabbed, shot, chopped, torn, and shattered, lying around in both a solid and a semi-liquid state, and yet there was still room for a considerable amount of quality (mostly black) humor. If Noomi Rapace's character hadn’t exhibited T-1000 resistance, I would have given the movie five stars. But it still deserves a strong four. 4*+ (2022-01-13)

When I saw Tommy Wirkola's name attached as director, I had no doubt this film was going to be a blast. The film is a wild ride about two people who head to a cabin with the intent to kill each other, only to find themselves caught in a series of absurd and unexpected situations that turn into a fight for survival. I had a great time watching it — it gave me serious Shaun of the Dead vibes, which is the gold standard for me when it comes to this kind of film. The only thing missing was a punchier soundtrack. If that had been there, I wouldn’t have hesitated to give it five stars. Still, Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie were absolutely fantastic. (2021-10-22)

I'm quite familiar with Tommy Wirkola’s work, so I knew what to expect. Norwegian filmmakers have repeatedly shown that black humor is their forte, and The Trip is no exception. I must particularly praise the cast. The duo of Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie, delivered an incredibly entertaining performance, with their lines being sharp and meticulously crafted. The first half of the film has a slower pace, but once it gets going, it truly ignites into an inferno! From that point on, prepare for a bloodbath. I enjoyed the central subplot involving the prisoners; their interaction with the main characters brought fresh energy to the film. However, I won’t rate it higher because the very end felt like the creators were running out of steam. Still, it’s a fantastic addition to the genre of bloody black comedies. For me, it’s a 7.5/10. (2021-12-17)

Tommy Wirkola surprised me with What Happened to Monday and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, but this one oddly enough didn't work so well with me. It has to be said up front that this is a slightly different film than what one would think of as classic Norway. The first half is a little heavy-handed, but then the film picks up and manages to entertain relatively well. The idea of three prison escapees in a house isn't terribly original, the acting is average, and otherwise the film generally doesn't pull anything off. It's kind of an ordinary cross between a parody and a home invasion flick with decent gore, but it only goes halfway in both directions and didn't really come together for me in the end. I had the feeling the whole time that I didn't care what happened next in the film. A golden average - nothing terrible, but nothing to cheer about like others here. (2021-10-19)