Lyckantropen - The Movie
Steve Ericsson
26 January 2003
In my review of the soundtrack of Lyckantropen by Ulver I expressed the wish to see the movie. My wish has been granted! So now I’m going to review a movie, a field in which I’m far from expert (inasfar one can name himself an expert in anything as subjective as ‘the arts’). I don’t want to give away too much of it, so I keep it short. 
The title of the movie would make one suspect it’s a movie about wherewolves, thus positioning itself in the horror genre. This is not the case. The theme of lycantropy is strictly symbolic. Without being horror, the movie is scary at times though, but it’s more about suspense a bit in the tradition of David Lynch. As a viewer you can’t figure out what’s real and what’s not as reality and fantasy alternate without notice (although there are some hints), another similarity to Lynch, who used this in his ‘schizophrenic fugue’ Lost Highway. Lyckantropen much ‘smaller’ than that movie, focusing on a family of mother, father and child.The movie is very atmospheric: the use of colour, the ‘musical’ cutting and the music itself make the film more an experience than just storytelling. As a viewer you just have eerie suspicions that don’t necessarily have to be true, but that scare you anyway. 
Although I had to read the translations from paper the movie really grabbed me and one particular scene gave me goosebumps, even in the middle of the day. The plot keeps you busy in your head about what exactly is happening, also after the half hour that the movie lasts and I’m still not entirely sure about it. For now only the VHS is available without subtitles (the film is Swedish spoken). Director Steve Ericsson is in negotiation for a DVD release in the US which will include subtitles. At the official Lyckantropen-site you can find where to get the VHS or when the DVD will be released.
The title of the movie would make one suspect it’s a movie about wherewolves, thus positioning itself in the horror genre. This is not the case. The theme of lycantropy is strictly symbolic. Without being horror, the movie is scary at times though, but it’s more about suspense a bit in the tradition of David Lynch. As a viewer you can’t figure out what’s real and what’s not as reality and fantasy alternate without notice (although there are some hints), another similarity to Lynch, who used this in his ‘schizophrenic fugue’ Lost Highway. Lyckantropen much ‘smaller’ than that movie, focusing on a family of mother, father and child.The movie is very atmospheric: the use of colour, the ‘musical’ cutting and the music itself make the film more an experience than just storytelling. As a viewer you just have eerie suspicions that don’t necessarily have to be true, but that scare you anyway. Although I had to read the translations from paper the movie really grabbed me and one particular scene gave me goosebumps, even in the middle of the day. The plot keeps you busy in your head about what exactly is happening, also after the half hour that the movie lasts and I’m still not entirely sure about it. For now only the VHS is available without subtitles (the film is Swedish spoken). Director Steve Ericsson is in negotiation for a DVD release in the US which will include subtitles. At the official Lyckantropen-site you can find where to get the VHS or when the DVD will be released.