Hammer of the Gods (2013 film)

Hammer of the Gods
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Farren Blackburn
Written by	Matthew Read
Produced by	Rupert Preston Huberta Von Liel
Starring	Charlie Bewley Clive Standen James Cosmo
Cinematography	Stephan Pehrsson
Edited by	Sam Williams
Music by	Benjamin Wallfisch
Production company	Vertigo Films
Distributed by	Magnet Releasing
Release date	5 July 2013 (2013-07-05)
Running time	103 min
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	$641

Hammer of the Gods is a 2013 British action film directed by Farren Blackburn and released on 5 July 2013. In it, a dying Viking king sends his son on a quest to seek out his older brother, the clan's only hope for defeating an approaching enemy horde.

Plot

Britain 871 AD. Young Viking prince Steiner, leads a compliment of 500 reserve warriors to England, following a Saxon uprising that is crushing the occupying forces led by his father; King Bagsecg. Arriving at his father's camp, Steiner attends a family meeting with his father and brothers; Harold his older brother and his younger half brother Vali, who is disliked by everyone but Steiner for being half Saxon. Absent is Steiner and Harold's older brother; Hakan, who has not been seen for over a decade due to a bitter dispute between him and their father; the cause of it unknown to Steiner.

Bagsecg who is bed ridden and dying, threats of leaving the rule of his people to Harold who's insistence that diplomacy is their best option would instead put their tribe under English tyranny. He orders Steiner to kill Vali for cowardliness, to test his strength as a leader.

He refuses and warns Harold off who attempts it himself to gain favour with their father. Furious, Bagsecg dismisses Harold and Vali and charges Steiner with the near impossible task to venture deep in to the hostile English lands to find and bring back Hakan to assume the throne; despite still harbouring content for his eldest son.

Steiner departs with his most trusted comrades: his closest friend Hagen, a Berserker named Grim, and Jokul; a superstitious believer in omens. Later they are joined by Vali who warns he has witnessed Harold secretly meeting with the Saxon King. Despite the urgency to return, Steiner pushes forward.

They approach Ivar, a Viking recluse and paedophile who lives with a slave girl named Agnes and a mute catamite. He agrees to lead them to where he believes Hakan to be and departs with Agnes while abandoning his catamite.

The group however are pursued by hooded men who slay Grim and later capture the rest; all except for Agnes. Revealed to be soldiers of the Christian faith, their captain confirms that Harold has been secretly negotiating a surrender, provided he still remain in power over his people. But the captain proposes to Steiner that he would be best suited to rule his tribe, if he agrees to submit to Christianity. Steiner refuses; knowing the strangle hold it would have on his people. Vali however switches sides to save his own neck and is taken to a nearby church, while Ivar is castrated for his perversions and foul talk.

After Agnes frees Steiner he then frees Hagen and Jokul. Ivan dies from blood loss but tells Steiner where he may find Hakan. They rescue Vali, but Hagen and Jokul demand he be killed for his cowardliness and treachery. Forcing Steiner to kill Hagen instead to protect his brother.

Now down to four, they head in to an eerie forest and are captured again; this time by a tribe who dwell deep within a nearby cave. Taken there, Jokul is killed and served as the tribe's banquet, Vali again switches sides, while Agnes is claimed by the tribal chief; Steiner's older brother Hakan, who the tribe worship as a god. A delusion he himself believes.

During the tribal festivities, Steiner encounters his mother Astrid; whom he thought dead, and who is also deluded by Hakan's megalomania. Further shocking revelations are made as Steiner learns finally the truth behind Hakan's exile. To his disgust his mother and brother openly share a passionate kiss, revealing their incestuous relationship.

After Hakan kills Vali to further his dominance over the tribe, he and Steiner are lowered in to a dark pit to fight to the death, but despite Astrid secretly handing Hakan a knife to win, Steiner emerges the victor. The tribe bow in submission while Astrid, in an attempt to kill Steiner is thrown in to the pit by him.

Steiner returns to Bagsecg's camp with Agnes, and presents Hakan's head to his father. Harold argues he was supposed to bring Hakan back alive. But Bagsecg responds “He was sent to find a king” seeing that Steiner is now ready to lead their people.

Steiner then kills Harold for his treachery; much to Bagsech's applause. Later with Agnes by his side he musters his army to confront the approaching Saxon forces.

Cast

• Charlie Bewley as Prince Steinar
• Clive Standen as Hagen
• Michael Jibson as Grim
• James Cosmo as King Bagsecg
• Elliot Cowan as Hakan
• Guy Flanagan as Jokul
• Glynis Barber as Astrid
• Ivan Kaye as Ivar
• Alexandra Dowling as Agnes
• Finlay Robertson as Prince Harold
• Frances Magee as Ulric The Chronicler
• Salomon Thomson as Wilfred
• Michael Lindall as Leader Saxon
• Laura Sibbick as Woman Saxon
• Theo Barklem-Biggs as Prince Vali
• Daniel Stephen Price as the ginger king from Hertford

Reception

The Reception was merely negative with Critics Giving Only 30 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes.It's hardly high art, but for a cheapjack homegrown action flick this is surprisingly solid. Some Critics Gave that "A nasty, brutal and relatively short entertainment, aimed at middle-of-the-woad Conanists.". After all it was a Box-Office Flop.

References

• Hammer of the Gods: An Interview with director Farren Blackburn

External links

• Hammer of the Gods at IMDb
• Official website