Midsommer
| Midsommer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| English | Midsummer |
| Directed by | Carsten Myllerup |
| Written by | Rasmus Heisterberg |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Edited by | Mogens Hagedorn Christiansen |
| Music by | Søren Hyldgaard |
Production company | Cosmo Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Countries | Denmark Sweden |
| Language | Danish |
Midsommer (English: Midsummer) is a 2003 psychological horror film directed by Carsten Myllerup and written by Rasmus Heisterberg.[1][2] The story revolves around a group of Danish students who celebrate their graduation in a Swedish forest, when they encounter a supernatural presence seemingly connected to a friend who recently committed suicide. Six months after the film's release in 2003, the film rights were purchased by Bill Block for an American remake.[3] The American version was reset to a Louisiana bayou and released in 2007 with the title Solstice.[4]
Plot
[edit] | This article needs a plot summary. (September 2019) |
The film revolves around a group of Danish students who decide to celebrate their high school graduation with a trip to a remote Swedish forest. The group, consisting of Christian, Trine, Anja, Jannick, Mark, and Sofie, is still reeling from the recent suicide of their close friend, Linn. Despite their grief, they hope the trip will provide a sense of closure and an opportunity to move forward.
As they settle into their isolated cabin in the woods, strange and unsettling events begin to occur. The group starts to notice eerie coincidences and unexplainable phenomena that seem to be connected to Linn’s death. They discover that Linn had a deep interest in the occult and had left behind cryptic notes and symbols that hint at a supernatural presence in the area.
Tensions rise as the group members are forced to confront their own guilt, secrets, and unresolved emotions surrounding Linn’s death. Christian, who was particularly close to Linn, begins to experience vivid nightmares and hallucinations, blurring the line between reality and the paranormal. The group’s unity starts to fracture as paranoia and fear take hold.
As they delve deeper into the forest, they uncover a dark history tied to the location. The forest is revealed to be the site of ancient rituals and sacrifices, and the supernatural presence they feel seems to be tied to these past events. The students realize they are being drawn into a sinister force that feeds on their vulnerabilities and emotional pain.
The supernatural presence becomes increasingly malevolent, and the students must find a way to escape the forest before it consumes them entirely.
Cast
[edit]- Kristian Leth as Christian
- Laura Christensen as Trine
- Julie Ølgaard as Anja
- Nicolai Jandorf as Jannick
- Jon Lange as Mark
- Lykke Sand Michelsen as Sofie
- Tuva Novotny as Linn
- Per Oscarsson as Persson
Reception
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg?lang=en){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2019) |
The film received generally positive reviews from the Danish press.[5] The Berlingske Tidende awarded it 4 out of 6 stars, praising the films lighting, acting and effectiveness at providing surprising moments of fright, but criticized the rushed and confused quality of the film's latter half.[6] The Politiken appreciated the filmmaker's success in elevating the film beyond the typical teen horror flick but found the abundance of mysterious happenings to be over-the-top.[7]
Awards and nominations
[edit]A song from the soundtrack, "Transparent and Glasslike" by Carpark North, won the award for Best Song at Denmark's 21st Robert Awards.[8][9] The film also received both the Older Jury Award and Audience Award at the Leeds International Film Festival.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Midsommer (2003)". The Swedish Film Database. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Midsummer / Midsommer". The Danish Film Institute. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- ^ "Midsommergys solgt til USA" [Midsummer Horror sold to USA]. Berlingske Tidende (in Danish). 3 September 2003. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ Niels Penke, ed. (2013). Der skandinavische Horrorfilm: Kultur- und ästhetikgeschichtliche Perspektiven [The Scandinavian Horrorfilm: cultural and aesthetic-historical perspectives] (in German). Bielefeld. pp. 302–307. ISBN 9783839420010.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Calum, Per (6 February 2003). "Habilt underholdende". Jyllands-Posten (in Danish). Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Gys i natten" [Horror in the Night]. Berlingske Tidende (in Danish). 6 February 2003. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ Jensen, Anders Rou (7 February 2003). "Midsommer". Politiken (in Danish). Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ ""Arven" tog for sig af Robert'erne". Berlingske Tidende (in Danish). 1 February 2004. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ Hartvig Nielsen, Stig (2 February 2004). "TV 2 med i 13 Robert-priser" (in Danish). TVnyt. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
External links
[edit]- Midsommer at IMDb
- Midsommer in the Danish Film Database
- Midsommer in the film database danskefilm.dk (in Danish)