Valhalla Rising

Between the endless list of sci-fi options, Valhalla Rising in the US on Philo and AMC+ Amazon Channel is the one that earns the time. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Mads Mikkelsen leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Put it on tonight on Philo and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Valhalla Rising is worth clearing space for. Valhalla Rising treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. Scandinavia, 1,000 AD. For years, One Eye, a mute warrior of supernatural strength, has been held prisoner by the Norse chieftain Barde. Aided by Are, a boy slave, One Eye slays his captor and together he and Are escape, beginning a journey into the heart of darkness. Mads Mikkelsen and Gary Lewis lead a cast that makes the ambitious moments land. It was released in 2009. Valhalla Rising resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Valhalla Rising genuinely rewarding. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Mads Mikkelsen's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.

Valhalla Rising was released in 2009, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. The full 93-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.