The Salvation

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The Salvation

R

2015

1h 29m

Drama

Western

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

82 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After shooting the man who murdered his wife, a Danish settler (Mads Mikkelsen) incurs the wrath of the man's brother (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a ruthless land baron who rules their frontier town.

Critics Consensus

It's all but impossible to add anything new or fresh to the traditional Western, but -- thanks in no small part to Mads Mikkelson's performance -- The Salvation comes close.

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Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

In an untamed world where hypocrisy is loud and where no one can be trusted, salvation is one's own business and actions speak louder than words.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 24, 2015

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Wild West vengeance gets a terrific homage and a bloody reckoning in this oater excursion ...

Rated: 3/4

Apr 23, 2015

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Jonathan Romney

Observer (UK)

It never transcends reverent pastiche, down to the hackneyed twang of Morricone-style guitars.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 19, 2015

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Any temptation for dead weight and drag has been smartly trimmed, not only by the man-of-few-words acting, but also by the basic revenge story framework that always delivers in this genre.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 28, 2025

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Yet the film has a unique feel and an intense visual flair that goes along with its violent self-awareness.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 25, 2022

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Michael J. Casey

Michael J. Cinema

There is a story buried under all this dirt and grime, and it is a fairly interesting one, but writer/director Kristian Levring doesn't seem too interested in it.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 13, 2021

Full Review

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Christopher S

Good for 3/4. Then let down by a formulaic ending. A missed opportunity

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/15/25

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mark g

Minimalist, savage, beautifully shot. Actors were well cast and invested. Glorious film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

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Gareth v

A stylish, gritty Western that pays homage to classic revenge tales while injecting a European sensibility into this genre. It’s a lean, mean story of loss, justice, and moral ambiguity, anchored by strong performances and striking visuals.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

Pongo K

This is a really gooooood movie! Sophisticated but not too complex. At the very top of "western"- movies. C it!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Faiz D

Just another western. Saw this because I am a huge Mikkelsen fan.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

Full Review

Korra N

Not great but still a showcase for the always outstanding Mads Mikkelson, The Salvation is grim, unrelenting & gripping.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

Full Review

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Kristian Levring

Director

Mads Mikkelsen

Jon

Eva Green

Madelaine

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Delarue

Éric Cantona

Corsican

Mikael Persbrandt

Peter

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Critics Consensus: Focus is Sleek and Slick But Too Twisty

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Synopsis

After shooting the man who murdered his wife, a Danish settler (Mads Mikkelsen) incurs the wrath of the man's brother (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a ruthless land baron who rules their frontier town.

Director: Kristian Levring
Producer: Michael Auret, Tracy Brimm, Marlow De Mardt, Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Kate Myers, Charlotte Pedersen
Screenwriter: Anders Thomas Jensen, Kristian Levring
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Zentropa Entertainment, Spier Films, Forward Films
Rating: R (Violence Throughout)
Genre: Drama, Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 27, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 29m

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