The Salvation

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. (07.09.2020)

Mads Mikkelsen sticks to his honest emotionless style and makes his way into the Wild West with colts stuffed with gunpowder. The fact that the Danes are shooting a western is already strange in itself. However, I must say that thanks to the stellar European cast, it did not turn out that bad. But the premise is very weak and the only thing interesting here are the locations and the filmmaking craft. I have a hard time with watching Western movies in general, so I give this a 3-star rating for now. But it is quite possible that when I get back to this in the future, I will add one more star. Seen based on the Challenge Tour 2015. (27.04.2015)

A great western-revenge drama with an excellent Mads Mikkelsen and the always seductive Eva Green. The film may not bring anything new to the genre and takes a lot from the classic The Magnificent Seven, but with the genre dead I don't mind at all, I'm happy for any addition that manages to capture the grittiness of the time. If the film was bloodier I'd go for a full rating. Decent entertainment. 80%. (19.11.2017)

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? (02.01.2020)

The best of Watchmen, Manchester United, a Bond girl, and the charismatic Mads Mikkelsen. It's a must-see just because of the amazing cast. Of course, it's a by-the-numbers affair that doesn't offer anything besides the actors and solid visuals, but it's clear from the first few minutes that it will be stylishly lethal, and you can even guess the order of who dies and in what form, which is not trivial coming from the Danes. (28.06.2015)

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. (03.10.2015)

Long live the modern western because it still lives on. The truth may come as a surprise that this is a film from a Danish-British-South African co-production, but that doesn't change the fact that it is an excellent, gritty spectacle about revenge. And one would think that similar films have already been exhausted. Yet they haven't, and Mads is superb as a cowboy and a proper man. (18.10.2014)