There is something mythological about killing an animal and then mocking it by sticking it into its own intestine
2003-03-08
N/A
100 min
A black comedy featuring two butchers, Svend "Sweat" and Bjarne, who start their own shop to get away from their arrogant boss. Cannibalism is soon introduced to the plot, and further complications arise due to the reappearance of Bjarne's intellectually disabled twin brother Eigil.
Sweeney Todd... if he were a butcher?*
I watched this as part of my run through Mads Mikkelsen's filmography, but it may as well be a Nikolaj Lie Kaas 'watchathon' given how often he has appeared - not that I'm complaining, I like him as an actor. Him and Mikkelsen (how about that trim!) are terrific all the way through this 2003 flick.
The story is a surprisingly simple one but is one that never bores or overstays its welcome, the 90 or so minute run time is perfectly selected in that regard. It's a pretty messed up story but an entertaining one at that, you can probably predict large portions from a certain point - yet even then there are still bits that are against that grain.
Humour-wise it's solid if not spectacular, though a lot of it is naturally likely lost in translation... it still has its moments, mind. Elsewhere, I enjoyed the score a fair amount, it reminded me ever so slightly of a tiny bit of music from 2011's (outstanding) <em>'<a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/source-code/" rel="nofollow">Source Code</a>'</em>.
In short: <em>'The Green Butchers'</em> is excellent. I'd personally recommend that you check it out.
<em>*looks like Andy Milligan and John Miranda did <a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/bloodthirsty-butchers/" rel="nofollow">just that</a> 33 years prior this with 'Bloodthirsty Butchers'... kudos!</em>
