Mørke

I would say I like dramatic thrillers a lot - particularly when events are happening in a real life, not in someone's head. If a confrontation arises between main personalities, it provides additional value to the film. In Mørke, the respective atmosphere and preconditions are capably created, but the main opposition is not equal: Jacob (vigorously performed by Nicolaj Lie Kaas, at least 1 additional point from me due to him) is much stronger and versatile character than "soft" Anker (Nicolas Bro) and the reasons for the latter's actions could have been different than appeared in the end (with a decent twist, however). Or perhaps I am more interested in materially motivated actions than spiritually.

The film is undoubtedly for you if uneasiness, gloom and doubts throughout the film are important and long moving scenes do not become boring.

Mørke... Darkness... a movie consisting of, revolving around, set in and taking place in the cover of darkness. A movie about suicide close to you, made by probably the two most fitting people in Danish show business; Nikolaj Lie Kaas, whose mother committed suicide, and whose father drowned, in what may have been a suicide, and Jannik Johansen, whose sister committed suicide. This was a necessary film to make, for both of them. And us Danes need it too, because of the message it so beautifully communicates: we're not open enough about death. It's taboo. We don't talk about it... we just don't. And that's a mistake. As a character so perfectly says it in this film: "We don't talk about death. That's why it's so hard." The plot is brilliant. It makes sense and holds water(to some extent; it will be become clear to most viewers that Jannik Johansen chose dramatic effect over realism for some parts in the film). Also, it leaves room for Kaas' character to ponder, wonder and feel guilty. Without the internal conflict of Jakob, our main character, the film wouldn't be what it is. The pacing is absolutely perfect. I was never bored for a second. The acting is flawless. Nicolas Bro and Kaas are astounding. The characters are exceptionally well-written and credible. The dialog is great. Not one line seems contrived. It's put to great use, too; in one of the first scenes, Jakob's relationship with his sister and their mother, not to mention their(or is that... our?) relationship with death. Johansen also does a great job of underplaying cinematic effects... several scenes end with an unpleasant twist that adds something entirely new to the whole scene. The whole film through, we're delved into the mystery, not knowing who to trust, or what to think. We feel Jakob's powerlessness, his panic, and his guilt. We follow his travel into his own darkness as he unravels the truth. There are several scenes of high intensity, incredible tension and great suspense. Johansen has a tendency to draw out scenes that are in actuality quite short, and with great effect. This is, in my opinion, the greatest accomplishment in Danish cinema. I recommend this film to any fan of Danish films, thrillers and/or dramas. If you think you can take it(it's definitely not for the faint of heart), you should give it a chance. There's a big chance you'll find it every bit as deep, strong and emotionally involving as I did. 10/10

If someone close to you tries to commit suicide - the normal reaction is to be taken aback. To start thinking what did I do wrong ... and also denial. Did he/she really try that? It can't be true ... something must be off. Usually you are extra careful when something like that happens ... and that is what the brother here does do, as we see him.

I would argue that we can see where this is going with his sister ... and we may see certain things, certain "signals", certain winks ... or maybe we just think we do(?). Even without having read the summary of this, I knew where her destiny would lie ... where her journey would take her - no pun intended. Also there are no brownie points or cookies if you guess right, what happened ... binary choice, only one of two things is possible. But it is nice to see the story evolve and the actors are amazing all around! I would not have reacted the same way the main guy does - but then the movie wouldn't have some thriller spikes in it if he did ... some cliches are being used, but overall more than a decent effort!

I watched this movie on late night TV because Nikolaj Lie Kaas headed the cast; he is always astounding, and gives such rounded, often so-believable-it's-painful, performances. Then on to the screen walked Nicolas Bro (as Anker, the serial wedder) and I knew this would be a film worth staying up late for. Bro can walk that fine line between comfortingly believable nice guy and crazy nut job, so that one is forever questioning judgements formed about his character's true motives. His physical size alone is at once both reassuring and threatening.

There are layers to this excellent, but dark story which are still emerging for me. Kaas' character is drawn into a search for how his beloved sister, disabled from an earlier suicide attempt, could have suicided on her wedding night to the (decidedly creepy) Anker. So many times I wanted to scream at Kaas 'Go home - you really don't want to be going there!!' as he relentlessly pursued the truth about his sister's death.

I was always aware that Nikolaj Lie Kaas' parents had each suicided, and so this film would have been a necessary, and perhaps cathartic experience for him. I hadn't known that the Danes were a death-denying country, but perhaps this is a feature of all Western countries, as we go about kidding ourselves that we're happy, and that we'll surely live forever! Death and death-denial are favourite subjects of mine, so this film spoke to me at a deeper level than it may for other viewers.

Don't let the subject matter put you off. This is a truly remarkable film, and is worth seeing, just for the performances alone.

Acting is great, photography and ambient is nice, but the story becomes just ridiculously and absurdly stupid somewhere around the middle of the film.

Not just that the main character behaves as a total idiot ( I won't say more, as I don't want this review to have a spoiler but you'll get it) but also all the other characters behave like brainless crowd.