I'm going to add my two cents. There seems to be a divided response to this film depending on whether you're used to European film-making or Hollywood gore and special effects. Villmark is more akin to a suspense film than most American horror movies, so I can understand that some viewers felt disappointed (not me, I enjoy trying to figure a movie out and not always knowing what to expect).
The movie starts out with a group of young people joining Gunnar, who runs a successful outdoor adventure TV program. He invites the four of them on a trip where they'll be exposed to the same hardships the show subjects its contestants to as a type of proving ground to see if they have what it takes for the job. They drive into the wilderness (filmed in a beautiful, remote part of Norway called Sogndal) and Gunnar turns out to be a control freak, obsessed with the idea of forcing the four young recruits to prove their mettle surviving in the wilderness. The director, Pål Øie, does an excellent job keeping the viewer on edge and recreating the sense of isolation and unease that comes from being alone in a dark, overgrown forest far from civilization. The soundtrack is excellent and contributes to the suspense of the film. The acting is very good - Kristoffer Joner (Lasse) does an outstanding job as the headstrong film-maker who butts heads with Gunnar and challenges his authority and Eva Röse (Elin) puts in a great performance as the gorgeous, loyal confidante to Gunnar.
The movie builds to a climax but ultimately the viewer is let down by an irrational and hastily-conceived plot. The twist at the end should have made it more interesting but no explanation is ever given as to who the gate-keeper really is, why he killed the German couple or why he would try to kill Per, Gunnar, Elin and Sara. We're only treated to a fleeting glimpse of him at the outset of the film and the director makes no attempt to develop the character.
I would have preferred an oh-so-predictable ending with a ghost or some kind of evil creature instead of being served this nonsense. Really, that the police would think a German tourist could survive for 30 years alone in the Norwegian woods without a big RV or a GPS tracker, amazes me!
The movie starts out with a group of young people joining Gunnar, who runs a successful outdoor adventure TV program. He invites the four of them on a trip where they'll be exposed to the same hardships the show subjects its contestants to as a type of proving ground to see if they have what it takes for the job. They drive into the wilderness (filmed in a beautiful, remote part of Norway called Sogndal) and Gunnar turns out to be a control freak, obsessed with the idea of forcing the four young recruits to prove their mettle surviving in the wilderness. The director, Pål Øie, does an excellent job keeping the viewer on edge and recreating the sense of isolation and unease that comes from being alone in a dark, overgrown forest far from civilization. The soundtrack is excellent and contributes to the suspense of the film. The acting is very good - Kristoffer Joner (Lasse) does an outstanding job as the headstrong film-maker who butts heads with Gunnar and challenges his authority and Eva Röse (Elin) puts in a great performance as the gorgeous, loyal confidante to Gunnar.
The movie builds to a climax but ultimately the viewer is let down by an irrational and hastily-conceived plot. The twist at the end should have made it more interesting but no explanation is ever given as to who the gate-keeper really is, why he killed the German couple or why he would try to kill Per, Gunnar, Elin and Sara. We're only treated to a fleeting glimpse of him at the outset of the film and the director makes no attempt to develop the character.
I would have preferred an oh-so-predictable ending with a ghost or some kind of evil creature instead of being served this nonsense. Really, that the police would think a German tourist could survive for 30 years alone in the Norwegian woods without a big RV or a GPS tracker, amazes me!