The Salvation (2014)

• Year: 2014
• Released: 27 Feb 2015
• Country: Denmark, United Kingdom, South Africa, Sweden, Belgium
• Adwords: 1 win & 8 nominations
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2720680/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/The_Salvation
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-salvation
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English, Danish, Spanish
• MPA Rating: R
• Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
• Runtime: 92 min
• Writer: Anders Thomas Jensen, Kristian Levring
• Director: Kristian Levring
• Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
• Keywords: murder, revenge, 19th century, corruption, money,

	6.7/10
	64/100
	72% – Critics
	62% – Audience

The Salvation Storyline

The American West in the 1870s. A European settler, Jon Jensen (Mads Mikkelsen), has just welcomed his wife and son to the country when they are kidnapped and murdered. He takes revenge on the murderers, only to discover that one was the brother of a local land baron, Henry Delarue. Delarue runs the local town with a brutal hand. Now he wants vengeance on the man who killed his brother and the local townspeople are too scared of him to stand up to him. Jon is fighting more than just the local thugs, he is facing the entire town.

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The Salvation Movie Reviews

Great western

Set in the Old West in 1871 we meet Jon (Mads Mikkelsen)and Peter (Mikael Persbrandt) both soldiers who fought in the war of 1864 in their old country. Here Jon has been waiting to be reunited with his wife and son after a seven year gap. Only as soon as they arrive they befall a terrible crime and the only way Jon is going to be able to re right the wrong is by fighting back.

Now to say any more could be a plot spoiler – needless to say this is a classic western of the revenge genre. It paints the bad guys really bad and the good guys flawed but essentially ‘right’. There is ambiguity too and there are the townsfolk with their own agendas and greed and power stalking the prairie.

What makes this outstanding is the acting, the musical score, the make up and the fantastic direction. Director Kristian Levring is clearly a fan of John Ford and those of you who know your westerns will see a few shots framed a la ‘The Searchers’. Still I see this as flattery and this is truly an excellent film that will only go to prove that as a genre the western is alive, kicking and doing really well – absolutely recommended

An ensemble cast lifts the material

THE SALVATION is an addition to the familiar revenge western format so beloved by filmmakers in America and Italy. The twist here is that this is a Danish film, with a starring role for the highlight underrated Mads Mikkelsen who has always been a very convincing actor no matter what role he takes on. This short film plays out in a traditional way but it has a noticeably grim edge with a lot of death and destruction meted out en route to a traditional climax. My only real complaint with it is that it’s a little too digital, with CGI blood effects and CGI fires throughout, which is probably down to budgetary constraints.

An ensemble cast lifts the material and gives the film added power. Eva Green plays a mute girl with her customary relish and seems to really enjoy the opportunity to do something different. Jeffrey Dean Morgan seems to be doing a dry run for his role as Negan in THE WALKING DEAD and is very hateable. Michael Raymond-James was also in THE WALKING DEAD in season two as a villain and is equally imposing here. Douglas Henshall’s slimy sheriff and Jonathan Pryce’s self-serving mayor are convincing townsfolk. Even Eric Cantona impresses as a hired thug. Mikael Persbrandt (HAMILTON) is effective as Mikkelsen’s brother and Sean Cameron Michael (BLACK SAILS) has a tiny but effective role. Altogether these actors combine to make THE SALVATION a solid addition to its genre.

simple spaghetti western

Jon Jensen (Mads Mikkelsen) and his brother Peter left Europe after fighting on the losing Danish side in the war of 1864. They struggled to survive in the American west for 7 years. In 1871, Jon brings over his wife Marie and son. While traveling on the stagecoach, they are accosted by two violent men. They kill his wife and son. Jon avenge them by killing the men. One of them turns out to be gang leader Henry Delarue (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)’s brother. Henry demands revenge on the killers. The townfolks bring out an old woman and a drunk to appease Henry. He kills them but it doesn’t fool him. He doubles the protection cost and demands the real killer. Madelaine (Eva Green) lost her tongue to the Indians and was Henry’s dead brother’s woman. Mayor Nathan Keane (Jonathan Pryce) is an undertaker.

This is a simple revenge western. That seems to be the main critique for people but I don’t see that as an automatic failure. Mads Mikkelsen is one of the best at creating a quiet intensity. He is a nice guy with some darkness. The start inside the stagecoach is a scary opening. Despite its well traveled plot, there are some small interesting outliers. The townfolks try to sacrifice an old woman. In an another movie, it would have them be sniffling cowards and turning into violent mob. In this movie, there is a quiet resignation. I think critics take that resignation as a lack of intensity. It’s simply another color to paint the old style picture.