The Salvation has the traditional plot
of an American western, from setting to storyline, except that it was made with
the sensibility and tone of its Danish filmmakers. There is a weightiness to
the revenge narrative that feels distinctly Scandinavian, despite the classic Wild
West setting, allowing for unrelenting bleak content to overpower some of the
crowd-pleasing spectacle. Nothing about the actual story may be altogether
original, but the approach is a wonderful blend of distinct cultural cinemas.
Wasting no time
to immerse the audience in the violent and lawless world of the American west
in the 1870s, The Salvation opens
with the film’s most horrific act of barbarism. A former soldier turned
peaceful American settler named Jon Jensen (Mads Mikkelson) has waited seven
years to bring his wife and child over from Denmark
Even when those
who wronged Jensen and his family have been punished, the cycle of violence and
vengeance continues. It turns out that the offending party was brother to a
powerful gang leader (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) who happens to control the small
town nearest Jensen’s frontier home. Stopping at nothing to find his brother’s
killer, this ruthless villain begins terrorizing the town until they cooperate
with his manhunt. Despite wanting nothing more than escaping his grief by
traveling further west, Jensen is forced into an uneven battle for justice
against this gang of killers.
Directed by
Danish filmmaker Kristian Levring (Fear
Me Not) with an unrelenting screenplay co-written by hardworking scribe,
Anders Thomas Jensen (Brothers, In a Better World, The Duchess), The Salvation
is a co-financed international production shot in South Africa North America , but the narrative often
carries the pacing and sensibility of a European film. This is most apparent in
the bleak nature of the screenplay, offering little relief from the injustice
until the third act of the film. This makes the first hour of the 92-minute
film somewhat of an endurance test, and not just because of Jensen’s
misfortune.
Adding yet
another layer to the violence and revenge, Eva Green also has a supporting role
as a mute victim of Native American attacks. Paired with the gang of outlaws,
she seems to be a part of their violent world, but her inability to speak makes
it unclear where her real loyalties lie. Although the role has no dialogue and
minimal screen time, Green is as captivating as she has ever been. Mikkelson
also proves himself capable of adapting, convincingly fitting into the western
setting as easily as he has embodied any number of roles (most recently playing
the iconic cannibal serial killer in NBC’s “Hannibal
There is nothing
altogether groundbreaking about The
Salvation, but it is a solid entry into the western genre that fans will
likely enjoy. I have always liked these movies, and my appreciation of the cast
and Danish filmmaking only increased the likeliness of my satisfaction. The
Blu-ray release of the film offers a high definition presentation of the film’s
visual spectacle and polished cinematography, as well as a few extras. These
special features include interviews with select cast/crew, a behind-the-scenes
featurette, and the film’s trailer.
Entertainment Value:
9/10
Quality of Filmmaking:
8.5/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
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