Hammer of the Gods (2013 film): Difference between revisions
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Steinar departs with his most trusted comrades: his close friend Hagen, a Berserker named Grim, and Jokul; a superstitious believer in omens. Later they are joined by Vali who warns he has witnessed Harold secretly meeting with the Saxon King. Despite the urgency to return, Steinar pushes forward. |
Steinar departs with his most trusted comrades: his close friend Hagen, a Berserker named Grim, and Jokul; a superstitious believer in omens. Later they are joined by Vali who warns he has witnessed Harold secretly meeting with the Saxon King. Despite the urgency to return, Steinar pushes forward. |
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They approach Ivar the Boneless, a Viking recluse and paedophile who lives with a slave girl named Agnes and a mute [[Catamite|catamite]]. He agrees to lead them to where he believes Hakan to be and departs with Agnes while abandoning his catamite. |
They approach [[Ivar the Boneless]], a Viking recluse and paedophile who lives with a slave girl named Agnes and a mute [[Catamite|catamite]]. He agrees to lead them to where he believes Hakan to be and departs with Agnes while abandoning his catamite. |
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The group however are pursued by hooded men who slay Grim and later capture them all |
The group however are pursued by hooded men who slay Grim and later capture them, all except for Agnes. Revealed to be soldiers of the Christian faith, their captain confirms that Harold has been secretly negotiating a surrender, provided he still remain in power over his people. But the captain proposes to Steinar that he would be best suited to rule his clan, if he agrees to submit to Christianity. Steinar refuses; knowing the strangle hold it would have on his people. Vali however switches sides to save his own neck and is taken to a nearby church, while Ivar is castrated for his perversions and foul talk. |
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After Agnes frees Steinar he then frees Hagen and Jokul. Ivar dies from blood loss but tells Steinar where he may find Hakan. They rescue Vali, but Hagen and Jokul demand he be killed for his cowardliness and treachery. Forcing Steinar to kill Hagen instead to protect his brother. |
After Agnes frees Steinar he then frees Hagen and Jokul. Ivar dies from blood loss but tells Steinar where he may find Hakan. They rescue Vali, but Hagen and Jokul demand he be killed for his cowardliness and treachery. Forcing Steinar to kill Hagen instead to protect his brother. |
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Revision as of 00:12, 13 November 2014
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2014) |
 | This article consists almost entirely of a plot summary. (July 2014) |
| Hammer of the Gods | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Farren Blackburn |
| Written by | Matthew Read |
| Produced by | Rupert Preston Huberta Von Liel |
| Starring | Charlie Bewley Clive Standen James Cosmo |
| Cinematography | Stephan Pehrsson |
| Edited by | Sam Williams |
| Music by | Benjamin Wallfisch |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Magnet Releasing |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 min |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $641[2] |
Hammer of the Gods is a 2013 British action film directed by Farren Blackburn and released on 5 July 2013. In it, a dying Viking king sends his son on a quest to seek out his older brother, the clan's only hope for defeating an approaching enemy horde.
Plot
Britain 871 AD. Young Viking prince Steinar, leads a compliment of 500 reserve warriors to England, following a Saxon uprising that is crushing the occupying forces led by his father; King Bagsecg. Arriving at his father's camp, Steiner attends a family meeting with his father and brothers; Harold his older brother and his younger half brother Vali, who is disliked by everyone but Steinar for being half Saxon. Absent is Steinar and Harold's older brother; Hakan, who has not been seen for over a decade due to a bitter falling out between him and their father; the cause of it unknown to Steinar.
Bagsecg who is bed ridden and dying, threats of leaving the rule of his people to Harold who's insistence that diplomacy is their best option would instead put their clan under English tyranny. He orders Steiner to kill Vali for cowardliness, to test his strength as a leader.
He refuses and warns Harold off who attempts it himself to gain favour with their father. Furious, Bagsecg dismisses Harold and Vali and charges Steinar with a near impossible task. Despite still harbouring contempt for his eldest son, Bagsecg orders Steinar to venture deep in to the hostile English lands to find and bring back Hakan to assume the throne.
Steinar departs with his most trusted comrades: his close friend Hagen, a Berserker named Grim, and Jokul; a superstitious believer in omens. Later they are joined by Vali who warns he has witnessed Harold secretly meeting with the Saxon King. Despite the urgency to return, Steinar pushes forward.
They approach Ivar the Boneless, a Viking recluse and paedophile who lives with a slave girl named Agnes and a mute catamite. He agrees to lead them to where he believes Hakan to be and departs with Agnes while abandoning his catamite.
The group however are pursued by hooded men who slay Grim and later capture them, all except for Agnes. Revealed to be soldiers of the Christian faith, their captain confirms that Harold has been secretly negotiating a surrender, provided he still remain in power over his people. But the captain proposes to Steinar that he would be best suited to rule his clan, if he agrees to submit to Christianity. Steinar refuses; knowing the strangle hold it would have on his people. Vali however switches sides to save his own neck and is taken to a nearby church, while Ivar is castrated for his perversions and foul talk.
After Agnes frees Steinar he then frees Hagen and Jokul. Ivar dies from blood loss but tells Steinar where he may find Hakan. They rescue Vali, but Hagen and Jokul demand he be killed for his cowardliness and treachery. Forcing Steinar to kill Hagen instead to protect his brother.
Now down to four, they head in to an eerie forest and are captured again; this time by a tribe who dwell deep within a nearby cave. Taken there, Jokul is killed and served as the tribe's banquet, Vali again switches sides, while Agnes is claimed by the tribal chief; Steinar's older brother Hakan, who the tribe worship as a god. A delusion he himself believes.
During the tribal festivities, Steinar encounters his mother Astrid; whom he thought dead, and who is also deluded by Hakan's megalomania. Further shocking revelations are made as Steinar learns finally the truth behind Hakan's exile. To his disgust his mother and brother openly share a passionate kiss, revealing their incestuous relationship.
After Hakan kills Vali to further his dominance over the tribe, he and Steinar are lowered in to a dark pit to fight to the death, but despite Astrid secretly handing Hakan a knife to win, Steinar emerges the victor. The tribe bow in submission while Astrid, in an attempt to kill Steinar is thrown in to the pit by him.
Steinar later returns to Bagsecg's camp with Agnes, and presents Hakan's head to his father. Harold argues he was supposed to bring Hakan back alive. But Bagsecg responds “He was sent to find a king” seeing that Steinar is now ready to lead their people.
Steinar then kills Harold for his treachery; much to Bagsech's applause. Later with Agnes by his side he musters his army to confront the approaching Saxon forces.
Cast
- Charlie Bewley as Prince Steinar
- Clive Standen as Hagen
- Michael Jibson as Grim
- James Cosmo as King Bagsecg
- Elliot Cowan as Hakan
- Guy Flanagan as Jokul
- Glynis Barber as Astrid
- Ivan Kaye as Ivar
- Alexandra Dowling as Agnes
- Finlay Robertson as Prince Harold
- Frances Magee as Ulric The Chronicler
- Salomon Thomson as Wilfred
- Michael Lindall as Leader Saxon
- Laura Sibbick as Woman Saxon
- Theo Barklem-Biggs as Prince Vali
- Daniel Stephen Price as the ginger king from Hertford
Release
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2014) |
Reception
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| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2014) |
The film's reception was negative, with a 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. "It's hardly high art, but for a cheapjack homegrown action flick this is surprisingly solid." Another review stated "A nasty, brutal and relatively short entertainment, aimed at middle-of-the-woad Conanists." All in all, it was a box-office flop.
References
- ^ "Hammer of the Gods Trailer, News, Videos, and Reviews". ComingSoon.net. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
- ^ "Hammer of the Gods (2013)". Box Office Mojo. 2013-07-18. Retrieved 2013-09-09.