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Until the Light Takes Us

Play trailer Poster for Until the Light Takes Us Released Nov 20, 2009 1h 33m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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46% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
This documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at the controversial Norwegian black metal scene of the 1990s, an idealistic and innovative musical movement marred by jealous infighting and an unfortunate campaign of public violence. Drummer Leif Gylve "Fenriz" Nagell of Darkthrone and Varg Vikernes of Mayhem -- an innovative but troubled musician who spent over a decade behind bars for the murder of black-metal guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth -- tell their stories.

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Until the Light Takes Us

Critics Reviews

View All (24) Critics Reviews
Chris Chang Film Comment Magazine A morbidly hypnotic yet generally disorganized affair. To be fair, you could argue that it stays purposefully true to the pervasive murk of its subject. Sep 24, 2014 Full Review Stephen Cole Globe and Mail Unfortunately, everything the neo-Vikings say is unchallenged. Rated: 2/4 Feb 19, 2010 Full Review Joan Anderman Boston Globe Their dedication to giving the players their moment on the podium prevented Aites and Ewell from asking provocative questions, or, it would seem, any questions at all. Rated: 1.5/4 Feb 11, 2010 Full Review Conrad Doucette Decider Fails to capture the excitement of the original Norwegian black metal scene or explain why its art is more important than the sensational events for which it is remembered. Mar 11, 2019 Full Review Frances Morgan Electric Sheep Neatly made, but frustratingly anaemic, so keen to avoid editorialising and judgement that it ends up lacking in clarity, tension and even coherence. Dec 16, 2010 Full Review Josh Bell Filmcritic.com When Aites and Ewell manage to illuminate the complex relationship between art and action, Until the Light Takes Us can be fascinating and powerful. Rated: 3/5 Oct 12, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (151) audience reviews
Audience Member It’s takes a very fascinating topic but makes it boring Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/28/19 Full Review dennis m Fascinating if for no other reason than to make you aware that such a macabre counterculture exists. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The most boring people in the world perpetrate the most boring albeit gruesome murders ever Norway is so boring. Don’t meet your black metal heroes, kids. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member If one has never heard of the norweigan black metal scene in the 80's and 90's, Until the Light Takes Us makes for an interesting musical history lesson. For the rest however, there's actually not that much to recommend. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Documentary about the black metal scene and its early roots featuring bands like Darkthrone, Mayhem, and Burzum. The story centers around these bands and the influence they had not only on the scene itself but the violence and reputation it created in the early 90's. Darkthrone's Fenriz is the main guy whom the works with along with input from Hellhammer, Varg, and Frost from Satyricon. I found it troubling to see a guy like Fenriz who seems very likable but yet depressed and sad of where black metal has gone in terms of popularity and also the tragedies surrounding his friends "Dead" who took his own life and "Euronymous" who was murdered by "Varg". 9/10 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member It does NOT tell the 'story' of black metal. In fact it mostly skips over its birth and growth throughout the 1980s. Regardless, this is more about the 1990s Norway scene and some of the major characters at that point. This particular group lead some sad lives away from the music and that is the focus. There is some history of the metal scene as well, but it did not seem the priority. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Until the Light Takes Us

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Cast & Crew

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Aaron Aites

Director

Audrey Ewell

Director

Fenriz

Actor

Varg Vikernes

Actor

Hellhammer

Actor

Abbath

Actor

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Until the Light Takes Us

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Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at the controversial Norwegian black metal scene of the 1990s, an idealistic and innovative musical movement marred by jealous infighting and an unfortunate campaign of public violence. Drummer Leif Gylve "Fenriz" Nagell of Darkthrone and Varg Vikernes of Mayhem -- an innovative but troubled musician who spent over a decade behind bars for the murder of black-metal guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth -- tell their stories.
Director
Aaron Aites, Audrey Ewell
Producer
Aaron Aites, Audrey Ewell
Distributor
Variance Films
Production Co
Artists Public Domain, The Group Entertainment
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 20, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$119.6K
Runtime
1h 33m
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