Until the Light Takes Us - 7/10
A look at the Norwegian Black Metal scene of the early 90s, mostly from the perspective of art. The narrative is wrapped around a gallery showing of black metal-influenced artwork, as well as contrasting performance art pieces (a rather silly performance by Harmony Korrine inspired by black metal vs. a performance by someone in the scene, Frost of Satyricon). Lots of interviews with people who were in the scene at the time, mostly Fenriz of Darkthrone and Varg Vikernes from prison. Hits all the standard black metal history points (beginnings, Dead's suicide, Helevete record store, church burnings and the murder of Euronymous). Presents facts and opinions while letting the audience draw their own conclusions, and when it does have points to make, makes them fairly elegantly.
Now, why should you care about this if you don't like black metal? For the record, I don't. It's too intentionally low-fi for me, and for pretty reactionary reasons (lots of reactionary beliefs and attitudes in metal scenes in general). It is a fascinating story, and while I've heard there are other better documentaries out there on the subject, this is a good overview (and on Netflix instant now). Enough of the music to give you an idea of the sort of sounds, but not an overload if you really can't stand that kind of music.
Furthermore, Varg is a fascinating person. He's friendly, and nice and has a sense of humor...and is utterly sociopathic and manipulative. His philosophy has a lot of points you can agree with, and he's absolutely creepy. There is absolutely no remorse as he describes killing his band member, never letting his sense of humor slip. You can see the holes in his story, and see how his personality would make people gloss over them. Impossible to say what actually happened (I personally believe that Euronymous manipulated Varg into murdering him; sort of a suicide by proxy to become a "legend" in the scene, the way Dead had years before). I had heard that Sion Sono ("Suicide Club" and the AMAZING "Noriko's Dinner Table") was working on a fictionalized take on the murder, based on the "Lords of Chaos" book. Haven't heard anything about it in years though, but even if it does happen, there's a lot of room in this story for someone else to work with it. Either way, anyone who is looking to write a Hannibal Lechter type friendly, intelligent and sociopathic character should see this film for the interviews with Varg.
A look at the Norwegian Black Metal scene of the early 90s, mostly from the perspective of art. The narrative is wrapped around a gallery showing of black metal-influenced artwork, as well as contrasting performance art pieces (a rather silly performance by Harmony Korrine inspired by black metal vs. a performance by someone in the scene, Frost of Satyricon). Lots of interviews with people who were in the scene at the time, mostly Fenriz of Darkthrone and Varg Vikernes from prison. Hits all the standard black metal history points (beginnings, Dead's suicide, Helevete record store, church burnings and the murder of Euronymous). Presents facts and opinions while letting the audience draw their own conclusions, and when it does have points to make, makes them fairly elegantly.
Now, why should you care about this if you don't like black metal? For the record, I don't. It's too intentionally low-fi for me, and for pretty reactionary reasons (lots of reactionary beliefs and attitudes in metal scenes in general). It is a fascinating story, and while I've heard there are other better documentaries out there on the subject, this is a good overview (and on Netflix instant now). Enough of the music to give you an idea of the sort of sounds, but not an overload if you really can't stand that kind of music.
Furthermore, Varg is a fascinating person. He's friendly, and nice and has a sense of humor...and is utterly sociopathic and manipulative. His philosophy has a lot of points you can agree with, and he's absolutely creepy. There is absolutely no remorse as he describes killing his band member, never letting his sense of humor slip. You can see the holes in his story, and see how his personality would make people gloss over them. Impossible to say what actually happened (I personally believe that Euronymous manipulated Varg into murdering him; sort of a suicide by proxy to become a "legend" in the scene, the way Dead had years before). I had heard that Sion Sono ("Suicide Club" and the AMAZING "Noriko's Dinner Table") was working on a fictionalized take on the murder, based on the "Lords of Chaos" book. Haven't heard anything about it in years though, but even if it does happen, there's a lot of room in this story for someone else to work with it. Either way, anyone who is looking to write a Hannibal Lechter type friendly, intelligent and sociopathic character should see this film for the interviews with Varg.
