Lords of Chaos

R

Released Feb 8, 2019

1 hr. 52 min.

Comedy

Drama

Music

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List

73%

75 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1987 Oslo, 17-year-old Euronymous becomes fixated on creating "true Norwegian black metal" with his band Mayhem. He mounts shocking publicity stunts to put the band's name on the map, but the lines between show and reality begin to blur.

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Critics Consensus

Lords of Chaos presents a grimly compelling dramatization of a real-life music scene whose aggressively nihilistic aesthetic spilled over into fatal acts of violence.

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Karina P

I loved this movie. It was sad, but extremely interesting. Rory Culkin is amazing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

lena o

as a Mayhem fan, I liked this movie. People getting mad over it being "inaccurate" clearly skipped the beginning, it may have been better with different casting (especially for Varg) but it was a fun watch overall. I liked how, when I was sobbing in the end euronymous said "I created a whole new musical genre: True Norwegian Black Metal! And I created Mayhem. What the fuck have you done lately? Poser." i sure got called out, felt really in character for him

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

S. C

The acting is questionable at times but the movie overall is still fun, disturbing and keeps you entertained with its characters, set pieces and plot. Various visual highlights make it worth watching. Music's pretty good too.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/23

Full Review

Cam W

This was too much . Save your eyes. This is again toooooooo much.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/26/23

Full Review

Georgan G

Mostly interesting in terms of this being a very sad, but true story. I couldn't understand many of the feelings of the characters. Depression leading to violence, I did follow.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/10/23

Full Review

Brad P

The beginnings of black metal are rooted in the true horrors of this world, a fact both terrifying and grimly fitting. Akerlund's Lords of Chaos presents the facts with furiosity and artistic flourish but this is by no means a Hollywood version of black metal's most infamous band. Highly recommended for fans of the genre, but this is a well-done film in its own right and worth viewing regardless of your musical tastes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/10/23

Full Review

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Jonas Akerlund

Director

Rory Culkin

Euronymous

Emory Cohen

Varg

Sky Ferreira

Ann-Marit

Jack Kilmer

Dead

Valter Skarsgård

Faust

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Luca Cimarusti

Chicago Reader

It only makes sense that one of the strangest stories in rock 'n' roll history has come back to life as one of the strangest movies you'll ever see.

Mar 11, 2020

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

It's odd [and] not entirely successful.

Apr 3, 2019

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

Working from a screenplay co-written with Dennis Magnusson, Åkerlund accentuates the squabbling, misogynist club-house mentality of what became the "Black Circle".

Rated: 4/5

Mar 30, 2019

Full Review

Dolores Quintana

Dolores Quintana

I think Åkerlund was the right person to direct this film. His sense of style, evident in Polar, is used incredibly well in LORDS OF CHAOS. His understanding of human behavior also is spot on.

Dec 28, 2022

Full Review

Emma Wolfe

SpookyAstronauts

A dark story about egos, self-image, destruction, and of course a very interesting story.

Rated: 8/10

Dec 17, 2020

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Tom Beasley

VultureHound

Åkerlund is able to helm pure horror, deadpan comedy and the sweaty, oppressive feel of a metal gig with equal aplomb.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 15, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1987 Oslo, 17-year-old Euronymous becomes fixated on creating "true Norwegian black metal" with his band Mayhem. He mounts shocking publicity stunts to put the band's name on the map, but the lines between show and reality begin to blur.

Director: Jonas Akerlund
Executive Producer: Natalie Farrey, Kai-Lu Hsiung, Vincent Landay
Screenwriter: Jonas Akerlund, Dennis Magnusson
Distributor: Gunpowder & Sky
Production Co: Scott Free Productions, Insurgent Media, 4 1/2, Eleven Arts, Chimney, RSA FIlms
Rating: R (Grisly Images|Disturbing Behavior|Strong Sexuality|Nudity|Pervasive Language|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 22, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $253.2K

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