The Trip

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. (22/10/2021)

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. (19/10/2021)

I had fun, but during the final half hour, which just stretched everything unnecessarily, I got over my enjoyment. If they could manage to condense the story more and the film was 30 minutes shorter, I would definitely be happier. Either way, this silliness is worth seeing, whether you're a fan of Tommy Wirkola, Noomi Rapace or just this quirky "Tarantino-light" genre. (17/10/2021)

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. (17/12/2021)

Tommy Wirkola handles marital crises differently than Woody Allen. He’s just as entertaining and creative, but a whole lot different. Which reminded me of why I so much enjoy well-made movies by skilled filmmakers who enjoy doing their work and mean well by us viewers. The Trip is a Norwegian version of American genre flicks where everything gets unexpectedly complicated and the blood flows. This film is very darkly humorous and serious, grotesquely brutal with heart. The subject matter is not entirely original, but the characters and their sweaters are. Despite its initial simplicity, the film turns out to be beautifully edited and increasingly suspenseful precisely as the satisfied viewer demands. The cast is outstanding! (29/10/2021)