Headhunters (2012) | agoodmovietowatch
Headhunters

Pick #65

Headhunters

Dir. Morten Tyldum · Denmark, Germany · Danish, English

A dark and twisted thriller from Norway sure to raise some pulses.

8.9 Our score

2012 Movie Action, Crime, Mystery ICYMI

Our take

Fasten your seatbelts because this nasty little chase film will jerk the wheel when you least expect it, featuring balls-to-the-wall action and lots of Norwegian humor – dark humor that is. Based on a novel from the country’s most famous crime writer, Jo Nesbø, Headhunters is brutal, insane, and incredibly good. This twisting, turning thriller tells the story of a corporate recruiter (Aksel Hennie), who has a secret side hustle as a nightly art thief. He ends up being pursued by the charismatic Clas Greve, a Dutch businessman played by none other than GoT-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. And this plot summary is as far as you will get without the whole thing swerving into another direction. Headhunters does not slow down unless it wants to destabilise you further with simmering suspense. Like a Lars von Trier on speed, expect all the raw colors, emotion, and slightly off-kilter characters you want from a Norwegian production – and brilliant entertainment!

What it won

Awards

BAFTA

1 nom

Nominated: Best Film not in the English Language

European Film Awards

1 nom

Nominated: Audience Award

The story

What happens

An accomplished headhunter risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary.

Elsewhere

What the critics said

Notable Critics

"Clearly, there are streaks of farce in all this, as well as serious cracks in logic, and those who like their black comedy done to a crisp will happily feast on what Tyldum dishes up."

— Anthony Lane

"Despite the added satirical depths, this is a movie that will only need a single viewing to 'get'."

— David Jenkins

The details

About this pick

Year
2012
Type
Movie
Director
Morten Tyldum
Cast
Aksel Hennie, Julie R. Olgaard, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Synnøve Macody Lund
Language
Danish, English
Country
Denmark, Germany
Rated
R

Who picked it

About the author

Comments

  1. this is a movie you can watch over and over with really fresh and clever twists. The acting is great as is the cinematography and the scene in the outhouse is original and will be something you won’t forget. It is a really satisfying movie and after you see it you have that “I saw a GOOD movie” feeling.

  2. Great movie; the story is set in a specific way to be a good thriller and entertain. worth a watch

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