You will never find a shortage of international films at Fantastic Fest. As someone who is passionate about foreign language films, that is exactly what draws me to this festival. One international film I got to see was director Kasper Kalle’s Danish and Faroese gothic horror, No Rest for the Wicked.
No Rest For The Wicked is based on the short story Manor, written by the German author Karl Heinrich Ulrichs in 1884. It is known to be one of the first gay vampire stories ever told.
1862. Baldur lives a fisherman’s life on the isolated Faroe Islands far to the north in the Atlantic Ocean. His world is turned upside down when a stranger arrives: Helge, a rugged whaler, who awakens deep emotions within him. A mutual attraction starts to grow. When tragedy strikes, their forbidden passion unleashes mystical forces so disturbing that the villagers rally to keep evil at bay. But Baldur and Helge refuse to let their love be buried. They will fight till the end – and after.
He Only Has Eyes For Him
No Rest for the Wicked is a hauntingly beautiful tale of lust, wanderlust, and forbidden passions. Baldur, played by Egor Venned, longs for a life outside of the Faroe Islands with his widowed mother Ásla, played by Sofia Nolsøe Mikkelsen. Helge, played by Pilou Asbæk, arrives in town and tells tales of his adventures. He reignites Baldur’s passion for travel and more. Both Baldur and his mother seem to have an eye for Helge. But he seems to only have eyes for one- sorry, mom. This realization sets the tone for the rest of the movie; don’t worry, no spoilers ahead.
With the beautiful Faroe Islands as the backdrop, the gorgeous cinematography of Jacob Møeller, and the amazing and heartfelt performances of the entire cast, No Rest for the Wicked is everything you could want from a gothic vampire tale. The characters are complex and flawed, but easy to understand.
If you are looking for a queer gothic romance filled with a passion and ache that is all too relatable, look no further than No Rest for the Wicked. And remember, if you love genre film and you cannot get enough of international and foreign-language horror, you should have Fantastic Fest on your radar as a film fest to attend in the future.
