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Until the Light Takes Us

Until the Light Takes Us

Documentary · Music · 2008

Chronicles the history, ideology and aesthetic of Norwegian black metal, a musical subculture infamous as much for a series of murders and church arsons as it is for its unique musical and visual aesthetics. This is the first film to truly shed light on a movement that has heretofore been shrouded by rumor and obscured by inaccurate and shallow depictions. Featuring exclusive interviews with the musicians themselves, Until the Light Takes Us explores every aspect of the controversial movement that has captured the attention of the world.

Movie details

Until the Light Takes Us

2008 Documentary · Music 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Chronicles the history, ideology and aesthetic of Norwegian black metal, a musical subculture infamous as much for a series of murders and church arsons as it is for its unique musical and visual aesthetics. This is the first film to truly shed light on a movement that has heretofore been shrouded by rumor and obscured by inaccurate and shallow depictions. Featuring exclusive interviews with the musicians themselves, Until the Light Takes Us explores every aspect of the controversial movement that has captured the attention of the world.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Until the Light Takes Us?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Aaron Aites · Audrey Ewell

Written by

Audrey Ewell

Varg Vikernes

Varg Vikernes

Burzum

Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg

Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg

Hellhammer

Øystein Aarseth

Øystein Aarseth

Euronymous

Per Ohlin

Per Ohlin

Dead

Olve Eikemo

Olve Eikemo

Abbath

H

Harald Nævdal

Demonaz

Gylve Nagell

Gylve Nagell

Fenriz

Court is in session

Put Until the Light Takes Us on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.