A Danish teacher moves to a small island in Norway. The island has a dark secret, two schoolgirls who were said to have committed suicide. When a third girl nearly dies of the same reason, the teacher ¨becomes suspicious... Beautiful surroundings in a rather dull film, but an interesting theme with an insane priest in a small parish. Exorcism and fear of sexuality and changes. I liked the film.
10 Reviews
Try it, you might like it.
bjb-36 October 1998
I rather liked this film. Not too long, and genuinely creepy in parts. The low budget shows, but the film-makers don't over-stretch themselves so it works fine. The most obvious comparison is to "The Wicker Man", which has a similar premise. Sofie Gråbøl plays the lead role well, and Paul-Ottar Haga is perfect as the charismatic vicar. Definitely worth a look, more cerebral than watching a Bruce Willis film.
Absurd and annoying
Gatschmo29 April 2003
One of the most annoying movies I have ever seen. The first half looks like it could develop into a good psychological thriller of frightening atmosphere. But the following changes are just full of clichés - the fanatic priest, the bigoted community, the colour red, abuse and violation of the women through the priest (and the other men looking away) as the dominating motive. But last and least cause of anger is the final chase: Every turn is a stereotype insult of the spectators. Maybe that's a cliché by myself - but the movie looks to me like a female imagination of so-called male obsessions. The first movie I voted 1 of 10.
Well cast and entertaining.
raymond-151 January 2001
A drama with some tense moments and a gripping climax. When Julie, a Danish school-teacher takes on a new job on a small Norwegian island, she discovers that the god-fearing islanders and their crazy vicar hide a dark secret. It seems that past students at the school have committed suicide. Julie starts to piece together bits of information despite the fact that the church members tend to shun her believing that the devil sent her to their island. This air of mystery is well-developed. Like all good thrillers it is difficult to point a finger at the guilty party although one does have some strong suspicions fairly early on. But is it a red herring? A man carrying an axe, shadowy cellars and faces suddenly appearing unexpectedly at unlocked doors add to the general spooky atmosphere. But this is nothing compared with the closing scenes when Julie exposes the perpetrator and the secret is revealed. The chase which follows and the escape by boat is truly exciting....real edge of the seat stuff! In fact it's enough to put you off teaching as a profession, and the church as depicted in this film is not particularly inviting either.
The Wicker Isle.
morrison-dylan-fan26 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Recently seeing the excellent 1996 film The Hunters,I started keeping a look out for other Nordic Noir titles from the 90's. Taking part in a poll on the best movies of 1997,I was intrigued to spot a Noir starring a pre-The Killing Sofie Gråbøl,which led to me visiting the isle of darkness.
The plot:
At the school she teaches,Julie catches her boyfriend using the shower to have fun with his bit on the side (!) Wanting to move on as quickly as possible, Julie accepts a teaching job,based in an isolated isle. On the island,Julie gets a frosty reception,and becomes aware that the only way she can get close to people in the town,is by getting on with the dashing local vicar. On her first day at the new school,Julie is told of two students who recently killed themselves. Questioning the locals about the suicides,Julie begins to suspect that something is being hidden on the isle.
View on the film:
Sending Julie away to the small island,co-writer/(with Nikolaj Scherfig) director Harald Gunnar Paalgard conjure up an eerie mix of Nordic Noir and chilling Folk Horror, via the vast wide-shots of the island stylishly capturing the isolated state of the place,and the close-knit status of the townspeople. Sowing the mystery together in clipped fragments, Paalgard uncovers the truth behind the suicides with hazy overlapping images,that take a snap shot of the horrors being unleashed in the town.
Heating up the village paranoia of Folk Horror, the screenplay by Paalgard and Scherfig fuels the fear with a deep Nordic Noir cynicism at powerful institutions,where the mass gathering at church leads to the police losing their grip on carrying out the law of the land. Looking very 90's chic, Sofie Gråbøl gives a terrific performance as Julie,thanks to Gråbøl peeling Julie's laid back,anything goes attitude,to a desperation to escape the isle of darkness.
The plot:
At the school she teaches,Julie catches her boyfriend using the shower to have fun with his bit on the side (!) Wanting to move on as quickly as possible, Julie accepts a teaching job,based in an isolated isle. On the island,Julie gets a frosty reception,and becomes aware that the only way she can get close to people in the town,is by getting on with the dashing local vicar. On her first day at the new school,Julie is told of two students who recently killed themselves. Questioning the locals about the suicides,Julie begins to suspect that something is being hidden on the isle.
View on the film:
Sending Julie away to the small island,co-writer/(with Nikolaj Scherfig) director Harald Gunnar Paalgard conjure up an eerie mix of Nordic Noir and chilling Folk Horror, via the vast wide-shots of the island stylishly capturing the isolated state of the place,and the close-knit status of the townspeople. Sowing the mystery together in clipped fragments, Paalgard uncovers the truth behind the suicides with hazy overlapping images,that take a snap shot of the horrors being unleashed in the town.
Heating up the village paranoia of Folk Horror, the screenplay by Paalgard and Scherfig fuels the fear with a deep Nordic Noir cynicism at powerful institutions,where the mass gathering at church leads to the police losing their grip on carrying out the law of the land. Looking very 90's chic, Sofie Gråbøl gives a terrific performance as Julie,thanks to Gråbøl peeling Julie's laid back,anything goes attitude,to a desperation to escape the isle of darkness.
absolutely astounding, a thriller, makes you feel intrigued!
Rhettzky8 July 1999
this movie was a 10 out of 10 in my opinion. this film is currently on tour on a filmfest in europe, this movie was enjoyable for many reasons, the first i can think of is the suspense, this movie would make you grip yourself to the screen and make you not want to leave, this movie made me feal like i had to know the end or else you would not be able to think about anything else until i do! with a great young actress "Sina Langfeldt" (Solveig) who delivers an great portration of a torn person in chains at deaths door, at 15 she has a bright acting career ahead of her, Isle of darkness or Morkets Oy is a must see for anybody looking for a good movie!
Better than people think
Ida-1015 October 1998
Norwegian film disappoints again
notorisk8 July 2000
In the mediocre world that is Norwegian Cinema, Mørkets Øy fits in well with its token plank actors, amateur cinematography (it is SOO obviously not night in that last boat sequence...did they use blue overhead paper on the lens or something?) and contrived "cool" story. The only good thing in the film is the locations, so cudos to the location scout. If you want to see a good Norwegian film, watch "Junkmail" instead.
Terrible, terrible copy
ads-1215 April 1999
Don't try it
ads-1212 April 1999
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