I have been looking forward to watching Lords of Chaos since I heard about it for the first time a few months back, and it did not disappoint! This film was fascinating. Based off the book of the same name, the movie centers around a 90s band that dubbed itself the first “true Norwegian black metal band,” called Mayhem. Now I know what you’re thinking, “what’s this difference between black metal and metal?” Well the answer, according to deceased guitarist who went by the name, Euronymous, black metal is just like regular metal except it’s “Satanic” and “heavy.” Being a fan of heavy metal music myself, I actually really enjoyed the soundtrack, which actually featured songs that Mayhem recorded back in the day.
So with all of that foreknowledge, here’s the premise of the movie. Euronymous starts a band with members whose names are equally as ridiculous, but the early focus on the film is of lead singer, Dead. Dead is seriously depressed and eventually he can’t take it anymore and kills himself via cutting and a shotgun to the head. When Euronymous happens upon his friend’s body he takes a picture and uses it as an album cover (this is for real, so only look it up if you aren’t squeamish). I’m sure you’re all thinking this guy is heartless, but he’s got a Satan-worshiping, black metal persona to uphold. After Dead’s suicide the band moves and to supplement their music making they open a record store. While running the store they run into shy, strange Varg who they initially make fun of. Varg takes this to heart and becomes seriously deranged. He starts burning down churches and becomes really loose with his morals, but this earns him a bassist position in the band.
The members all form the “black circle” where they continue to burn down churches. One night, one of the black circle members stabs and kills a gay man. Varg takes the fall and it sent to prison but then released due to lack of evidence. In Varg’s absence, Euronymous talks with Kerrang magazine and lands them a cover, but all of this celebrity enrages Varg. Finally, Euronymous thinks Varg has taken things too far and wants to start a life with his girlfriend, so he quits the band, cuts his long black hair, and strives for some normalcy. Varg shows up to Euronymous’ apartment and the two get into an arguement (one-sided on Varg’s part) that ends in Varg brutally stabbing Euronymous to death. The death blow was a stab to HEAD, which I was not expecting, but it was very impactful and brilliantly shot.
And in case no one was following earlier, this actually happened in 1993. These were real people, and Varg actually went to jail for 21 years for the murder. He’s out now and claims that none of this was his fault, but man does that movie make a compelling argument against his denials. This movie is not for the faint of heart; it is rather graphic in parts, but the end result makes it worth the watch. Plus it touts a really talented young cast made up of Rory Culkin, Emory Cohen, Valter Skarsgard, Jack Kilmer and Sky Ferreira. Definitely some famous bloodlines here!