Written by Ben Murchison
Sometime between watching Johnny Knoxville chase a line of coke with champagne and Viagra while a half-naked woman slo-mo emerges from the pool of a rap video mansion and seeing his erection subside after a barrage of bullets leaves him a bloody mess while his assassins flee by helicopter joyfully karaoke singing to Earth Wind & Fire, you realize that you don’t really know what you are in for with Polar.
If that opening sequence sounds like more than you can handle, then it’s best to look elsewhere for entertainment because this movie has no intention of letting up. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, Polar is undeniably bonkers, but it’s also equal parts entertaining if you can stomach it. Mads Mikkelsen is memorable in everything he is a part of, so it is gratifying to see him star here as Duncan Vizla aka the Black Kaiser, seemingly the world’s most efficient contract killer.
Just days away from retirement, his employer (Matt Lucas) decides to have him killed to void his pension plan. Someone as observant as Duncan should have realized that a clause stating in the event of his death, his assets will go back to the company, but whatever, he’s going to kill everyone violently anyway.
The sheer premise of the film of will call the ever-popular John Wick to mind, but Polar’s source material (a graphic novel) predates that film even if this movie comes much later. There is a bit with a dog that I’m going to assume was a shrewd nod to Wick, although played for laughs. The overall vibe of the movie feels more like a blend of Smokin’ Aces and Netflix’s Daredevil and Punisher series with its eccentric cast of characters and extended fight sequences.
Truthfully, there isn’t a real comparison, as Åkerlund who is well known for directing artistic music videos, shoots this entire feature as one stylish two-hour video where people get brutally beaten to a pulp amongst some stunning scenery, unique camera angles and inventive lighting.The cinematography might as well be another co-star. In fact, Katheryn Winnick — who is beloved as Lagertha on Vikings — isn’t given much to do aside from look completely beautiful and badass in all her scenes, but she shines quite literally throughout thanks to the way she is dressed and lit.
The true co-star is Camille (Vanessa Hudgens) who helps provide a departure from boring retirement routines for Duncan as he takes an interest in her as a sort of daughter figure. Anytime Hudgens in on screen, the tone and pacing of the film changes dramatically. She throws her weight around, matching Mikkelsen’s intensity as someone who is clearly dealing with deep emotional trauma and looking to find an escape. Late in the movie, she delivers a powerful monologue, almost a poem, that’s as well done as any dramatic scene you’ll see in a more straightforward film.
She is also there for Mikkelsen to play off of in some of his lighter moments, and surprisingly, he gets a great deal of subtle props and throwaway lines that provide some intended levity amongst the violence. Having a man as tough as Duncan reading a book on how to care for his goldfish is just as funny as having bad guys say, “excuse me,” as they sheepishly tiptoe past him on the stairs.
The fact that the tone bounces around from action, to drama, to a sort of off-brand humor is enjoyable, and there are some real gems to be found if you are actively watching. The violence and nudity are entirely gratuitous, but the whole film is a sensory overload designed to take each element to its extreme. It probably goes too far in some case—especially if your girlfriend happens to walk in during a sex scene out of context that’s normally reserved for 2 a.m. on Cinemax. There is also a prolonged torture sequence that’s particularly unpleasant, but he must get the cool eye patch somehow.
Learning that Deadmau5 scored the film makes it particularly appealing to fans of his music, and you can hear his signature progressive melodic sound throughout along with some other choices that fit the unconventional tone.
Ultimately, this isn’t going to be the sort of Netflix release that is going to appeal to an especially wide audience. There are certainly elements that don’t necessarily work even for those that enjoy the movie, but if you finish that opening sequence still intrigued, then it won’t let you down the rest of the way. It easily lends itself to a sequel, so there is a very good chance that the Black Kaiser will distribute more violence at some point.
Rating: 7/10
