★★★★☆ (4/5) – Bloody brilliant.

Wirkola doesn’t just direct action; he orchestrates chaos. Fans of his earlier work will recognize the blend of splatstick (gory slapstick) and tension. One moment you’re laughing at a deadpan one-liner; the next, you’re wincing as a character is fed into a woodchipper. The film pays homage to classics like The War of the Roses and Fargo while carving its own bloody path.

For English-speaking audiences, the availability of the film with has been a gateway to discovering one of the most ferociously entertaining Nordic exports in recent years. The Plot: From Marital Therapy to Murder Spree The film follows Lars (Aksel Hennie) and Lisa (Noomi Rapace, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ), a married couple whose relationship is rotting from the inside. In a desperate attempt to save their marriage, they head to their remote cabin in the wilderness for a “romantic” weekend.

There’s just one catch: they have both secretly planned to murder each other.

In a landscape saturated with predictable Hollywood action-comedies, the 2021 Norwegian film I Onde Dager , released internationally as The Trip , arrives like a sucker punch to the funny bone—followed by a hammer to the kneecap. Directed by Tommy Wirkola ( Dead Snow , Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters ), this film takes the simple premise of a couple’s retreat and detonates it into a gory, hilarious, and wildly unpredictable thrill ride.

Before you plan your next romantic cabin getaway, make sure your partner hasn’t seen this film. And definitely, definitely download those English multi-subtitles —you won’t want to miss a single vicious quip.

What begins as a tense, darkly comic standoff quickly spirals out of control when a group of escaped convicts—led by the scene-stealing, unhinged “Pabbi” (André Eriksen)—storms the cabin. Suddenly, Lars and Lisa’s private war becomes a chaotic battle for survival. Forced into an uneasy alliance, they must navigate a night of extreme violence, shattered glass, and increasingly absurd betrayals. 1. Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie’s Physical Commitment Rapace, known for her raw intensity, proves she is a master of physical comedy mixed with brutality. Hennie matches her beat for bloody beat. Their chemistry as a couple who genuinely loathe each other yet share a primal survival instinct is the engine of the film.