The Salvation

R

Released Feb 27, 2015

1 hr. 29 min.

Drama

Western

List

72%

81 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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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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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

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John H

It was a typical Western and a bit of a copy of once upon at time in the west. No bad but nothing amazing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

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R 9

I anticipated more from it, though 'The Salvation' is a worthwhile 90 minutes. It reminded me of 1973's 'High Plains Drifter', not necessarily bar for bar but more the general vibe of it all... at least in terms of what I remember from that Clint Eastwood flick. This 2014 release is good if generally formulaic, it probably starts stronger than it finishes but all in all it is watchable. I caught a glimpse of the cast list before watching and it got me excited. Mads Mikkelsen, naturally, but also seeing Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Eric Cantona and Jonathan Pryce attached raised my hopes. If I'm honest, I've seen better from all of them (aside from Cantona, who has barely two lines, as this is his first acting gig that I've seen, I'm more accustomed to his ability with the football as a Manchester United supporter - legend!). What they give is more than satisfactory, but I didn't feel like any of them were firing on all cylinders. There are a few other issues like the (relatively minimal) special effects and the day/night lighting early on, but overall I'd class this as a positive viewing experience.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/17/23

Full Review

Definitely B

Loved this movie 🍿🎥 Miss the western genre 😭 Got bored with all the superhero movies

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/23

Full Review

Joe W

Ok kind of revenge movie. Not bad at all, except you've seen it before many times.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/23

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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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Jonathan Romney

Observer (UK)

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

Rated: 3/5

Apr 19, 2015

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

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Peter Garde, Peter Aalbæk Jensen
Screenwriter: Anders Thomas Jensen, Kristian Levring
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Zentropa Entertainments, 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

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