The Salvation

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The Salvation

R

Released Feb 27, 2015

1h 29m

Drama

Western

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Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

81 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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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

Full Review

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

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Tom Bond

One Room With A View

It's worth watching on mute and on repeat for the cinematography alone.

Rated: 3/5

May 31, 2019

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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

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AJ C

Lack of relationship build with our hero and his family was a missed opportunity. Otherwise, there were some nice touches.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/25

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Mark B

Solid western a simple story well acted. Not earth shattering breaking new ground but satisfying.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

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Audience Member

Great from all aspects.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/04/24

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All Things F

I gave this two stars all to Mads MIkkelsen. The writing was so stereotypical of "westerns" that it just came off campy. Mads wife gets r*ped and killed. The brother of the man that r*ped and killed her shows up asking the same dumb question. "Who killed my brother?" As if he doesn't know what a piece of garbage his brother is. It's obvious from the get go who we are supposed to root for. But, couldn't they come up with characters that were slightly more nuanced than a box of cereal? Meanwhile, we're all waiting for the ultimate - eventual - showdown where hopefully the bad guy dies without killing the hero. I had to skip to the part where the vengeance is near. I can't be tortured by lazy writing, and the misuse of a great actor like Mads Mikkelsen.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/18/24

Full Review

Jerod S

The opening scene where Madds picks up his wife and kid at the train station and then rides in the carriage with two thugs...is intense. The film couldn't keep up the intensity, but it's a solid western with good prevailing over evil running amuck.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/03/24

Full Review

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Kristian Levring

Director

Mads Mikkelsen

Jon

Eva Green

Madelaine

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

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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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