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Headhunters
Hodejegerne
2011 100 min Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden R 16+
★7.7
Thriller, Crime, Action
Director: Morten Tyldum
🎭 Based on
«Headhunters»
byJo Nesbø
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
An accomplished headhunter risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary.
US Gross:
$1.2M
Worldwide:
$18.96M
Starring
Aksel Hennie
Actor
Synnøve Macody Lund
Actor
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2013
— Best International Feature Film
BAFTA 2013
— Best International Feature Film
European Film Awards 2012
— Audience Award
Key opinion
Headhunters is widely regarded as a gripping, high-tension Scandinavian thriller that successfully balances dark humor with relentless pacing. While some critics find the plot artificial or prone to logical leaps, most audiences appreciate its inventive action sequences and strong lead performances.
| Acting | Aksel Hennie delivers a compelling performance that effectively tracks the protagonist's evolution from a superficial, status-obsessed recruiter to a desperate survivor. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography utilizes a crisp, cold aesthetic that enhances the film's brutal atmosphere and high-stakes tension. | |
| Pacing | The narrative structure excels at maintaining constant, escalating tension, though the film's reliance on intense action sequences occasionally strains credibility. | |
| Screenplay | The script provides a taut, fast-moving experience, but reviews are divided on whether the character motivations and situational logic hold up under scrutiny. | |
| Direction | The director successfully balances brutal violence with sharp, ironic dark humor throughout the film. |