Viking Wolf Movie Review – Horror Done Right! [On Netflix]

Looking for a new werewolf horror movie to watch? Viking Wolf is a great choice, and it’s available on Netflix!

I love looking at films from both a storytelling and character development perspective, so if those movie aspects interest you too, read the rest of this Viking Wolf movie review to learn about this werewolf tale with a Norwegian twist!

If you’d prefer to watch my review rather than read it, please check out my YouTube video below:

My Thoughts on the Plot of Viking Wolf

First things first, let’s unravel the plot. ‘Viking Wolf’ whisks us away to the small Norwegian town of Nybo, which is shrouded in fear due to a series of gruesome murders. Our protagonist, Liv (Liv Mjönes), is a newly appointed deputy police officer who’s juggling motherhood and her new job amidst these horrifying events.

Following a flashback sequence outlining how the “Viking Wolf” legend came to be, we meet 17-year-old Thale (Elli Rhiannon Müller Osborne). Thale is dealing with a lot of changes – she’s recently moved into a new home in a small town after her mother, Liv, is transferred from her job as a police officer in Oslo.

There’s tension between them as Thale partially blames Liv for her father’s death and isn’t exactly chummy with her new stepfather, Arthur (Vidar Magnussen). The only ray of sunshine in her life seems to be her deaf little sister, Jenny (Mia Fosshaug Laubacher).

But it’s not all doom and gloom, as Thale gets invited to an outdoor party by Jonas, a boy she fancies in her class. And after sneaking out some of her stepdad’s beers, she heads off into the woods to join the other kids. But the party turns sour when she sees Jonas chatting with Elin, the local Mayor’s daughter.

As if that wasn’t enough, things take a nightmarish turn when some kind of creature attacks Elin in the dark. Thale tries to help but ends up being injured herself, while Jonas backs away in fear. Elin, unfortunately, is dragged screaming into the woods.

The next day, the local police force, including Thale’s mother, Liv, and police chief Eilert, find only a bloody phone and a large claw. Though no one seems to know what kind of beast attacked the kids, Liv suspects it might have been a wolf.

Things get even stranger when a one-armed man named Lars comes to the police station, claiming that the beast is a werewolf, which he has been tracking all his life. Liv dismisses him, but not before he gives her a silver bullet, claiming it’s the only thing that can kill the beast.

With the arrival of veterinary expert William and his conclusion that the beast could indeed be an unusually large wolf, the Mayor sends out a hunting party headed by Liv and Eilert to kill it.

Meanwhile, Thale, our troubled teenager, finds herself experiencing strange dreams and visions. Her senses are heightened, she’s tired all the time, and her little sister finds her sleepwalking and can’t understand why.

I don’t want to spoil what happens next, but let’s just say the hunting party doesn’t go according to plan, and Liv comes out of it convinced more than ever of the possibility of werewolves in their midst.

The action is done really well, ramping up over the course of the film, along with the tension. And thanks to a strained relationship between them, as well as each character dealing with their own issues, Liv and Thale are each forced to contend with their problems without the other’s help.

As with most werewolf movies, it’s largely a tragic tale, though the film offers a sliver of hope as it comes to a close.

What I Liked About Viking Wolf

The Main Characters

And for me, this is where the film really shines – the characters. For all the challenges standing in her way, Liv is a character to admire. She’s dealing with the recent loss of her husband, a new job, and the responsibility of raising her daughters, all while trying to solve a series of horrific murders.

And I really have to give the actress playing Liv, Liv Mjönes, props in this regard. Her performance was captivating, but more than that, her character was vulnerable and flawed, and it truly made me feel for her struggles and how overwhelmed she feels as the murders pile up and she realizes her own daughter was in the middle of it all.

This is one mistake Hollywood regularly makes these days. If the hero is a woman, and especially one who’s portrayed as a “strong woman,” Hollywood writers and filmmakers tend to give her superficial or external problems to overcome, and the idea is basically that her biggest problem is that the people around her don’t give her enough credit for how amazing she actually is.

Look at so many modern female heroes in genre films, from Captain Marvel to Rey Skywalker, whose only flaws are that they have no flaws. They are perfect at everything they do, they never need to train or learn new skills, and their so-called flaws are only external, especially with regard to the men that surround them.

In contrast, Liv is presented as skeptical, intelligent, curious, and capable. But she’s also hindered by doubt, worry, fear, and even her own motherly instincts. She doesn’t have all the answers. And she’s not the smartest person in the room or the one who kicks ass the easiest.

But she also doesn’t give up, especially when she realizes Thale is involved. If anything, it spurs her to action all the more. Like Ripley and Sarah Connor, she’s an otherwise normal person thrown into an impossible scenario, but she adapts and overcomes it through a combination of skill, determination, and good old-fashioned luck.

That’s a hero who is at once relatable and easy to root for. She had me on her side from the first moment, and she only became more likeable the more the story progressed.

The Supporting Characters

As for the rest of the characters, I quite liked them, too, even if some of them could have been fleshed out more. At first, I was left wanting more from Thale’s character development. Her aloofness and distance initially seem out of place.

Still, as you go deeper into the narrative, it becomes clear that she’s dealing with the loss of her father, a new town, new friends, a potential love interest, and a sudden stepfather.

And her relationship with her little sister is as realistic as it is tragic. Thale’s transformation after being bitten adds an intriguing twist to the story, but I believe there was potential for further exploration here. A deeper look into the conflict and resolution between Thale and her family, especially Liv, would have added more depth to the film overall.

And I must add, it was refreshing to see that the men surrounding the female hero also didn’t fall into the modern Hollywood stereotype of being either villains or buffoons. The stepdad, Arthur, is presented as a loving man who provides for his new family and cares for them, willing to risk his life when it matters the most.

And the Police Chief, Eilert, is a flawed man with little experience in these matters. As a cop in a sleepy fishing village, he’s in way over his head. But he’s not some cartoonish buffoon standing in Liv’s way, either. He’s trying his best, even if she’s the one who steps up more. But at least his heart is in the right place.

William and Lars, as the vet and the werewolf hunter, were the least developed characters, with Lars coming dangerously close to being a parody of traditional monster hunters.

But his one scene with the police chief in the hospital was redeeming in that it gave him some much-needed depth in a difficult moment.

I would have loved to see more from William as well, as he’s in the film mainly to provide scientific exposition that could plausibly explain what’s happening. It would have been nice to see a little more of what’s driving the man behind the theories, though.

The Visual Effects

As far as the visual effects in ‘Viking Wolf,’ they’re impressively executed, especially considering the film’s limited budget.

A combination of CGI and practical effects are used for the werewolf scenes, along with creative use of lighting and camera work. The scenes are chilling, and the creature effects are genuinely terrifying – one scene even puts me in mind of American Werewolf in London’s iconic transformation scene.

And I have to add that one thing that caught my attention about this werewolf movie right from the start is the ambiance. Being set in a remote village in Norway, it immediately put me in mind of The 13th Warrior with its use of forested, mountainous terrain next to a small inlet and the occasional creeping fog rolling in from up the mountain.

Which is all to say, this movie is in some good company.

You can find Viking Wolf on Netflix here

Final Thoughts: Viking Wolf Movie Review

All in all, ‘Viking Wolf’ is a solid horror film that successfully combines elements of mystery and suspense with some real heart at the center of it all. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly worth a watch for its engaging plot, compelling characters, and impressive visual effects.

If you’ve seen ‘Viking Wolf,’ I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. And if you haven’t, well, what are you waiting for? Check it out!

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