2005’s Beowulf and Grendel injected some social commentary into the well-known epic tale along with some beautiful cinematography, but the film has sadly been mostly overlooked.
What Is It?
King of the Danes Hrothgar lives in despair as the monstrous Grendel wages war against his people and has slain many of his warriors. He sends for the aid of the legendary Beowulf who arrives at Daneland accompanied by his troop of warriors. They face off with Grendel, but the monster will not fight them and instead flees which prompts Beowulf to wonder about the claims that Hrothgar has made against the creature. Beowulf eventually finds that, when Grendel was a child, the Danish king killed his father for stealing a fish, though he spared the youth out of pity. However, after Grendel matured, he waged a war of vengeance against Hrothgar and his men. The beast does not attack Beowulf and his men, though, because they had done him no wrong. In searching for the creature, they come across his cave and one of Beowulf’s warriors desecrates it, which changes Grendel’s attitudes towards them and sets up a deadly struggle.
Cast: Gerard Butler, Stellan Skarsgård, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Sarah Polley, Eddie Marsan, Tony Curran
Crew: Sturla Gunnarsson (Director/Producer), Andrew Rai Berzins (Writer)
Original Release: 2005
Legacy:
This revisionist version of the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf never garnered much attention or acclaim, but it delivers an interesting updating of the source material with a touch of social commentary.
A Closer Look:
This independent film slipped onto the scene for a short time in 2005, and unlike the more Hollywood-ized versions from 1999 (with Christopher Lambert in the lead role) and 2007 (with motion-capture directed by Robert Zemeckis), it presented an introspective, somber approach to the story. It was produced on a more modest budget than the Robert Zemeckis version that hit the theaters two years later and it also steered clear of the typical Blockbuster-style pumped-up action-hero story one might expect. Instead, the creative team for the movie used the tale as a parable of sorts for the contemporary international politics of its day.
Beowulf is far from the blood-thirsty stereotype typically associated with the character–though he is surrounded by plenty of others that fit this mold. We discover that he is a warrior with an introspective side that questions whether force is always the correct first option in dealing with a potential threat. Now you could quite rightly argue that this gives as a very historically inaccurate view of people living during the Anglo-Saxon age, but if you go that route, let’s spend a few hours reviewing the historical gaffs in a film like, say, Braveheart. Beowulf and Grendel does not pretend to offer a history lesson or a faithful adaptation of the original poem. Instead, it uses that familiar tale as a common reference point to then be turned around as a mirror on ourselves.
The movie can easily be seen as a reactionary response to the interventionist policies of the United States during the 00’s, but not to the point that it delivers little more than an anti-America diatribe. Instead, it questions the blind reliance on force through the irony of historical figures heavily associated with the warrior culture. And the Beowulf of this film gives us less of the dashing, violent hero type and more of a thinker and strategist with a conscience who understands, maybe even fears, the consequences of violence.
Along with this less action-oriented, more contemplative story, the movie gives us strong performances by its very capable cast led by Gerard Butler (who would later do a rather different turn with a historical character in 300). Also, the austere landscapes of the on-location shooting in Iceland lend an air of stark beauty and authenticity to the film, enhanced by the striking cinematography that brings the movie to life. Beowulf and Grendel delivers a fantasy movie that also makes you think as well as an interesting spin on a well-known tale. It might not appeal to all fans of the genre, and it is certainly light on the action quota, but it deserves more recognition than it has received and it is worth searching out.
Why Was There No Sequel?
Beowulf and Grendel only covers the part of the original story that deals with Grendel and his mother (thus the name), and a sequel could have delivered the battle with the dragon and possibly even gone beyond the source material. But the film seemed more geared toward making a statement than to starting a franchise. It received only a limited release at the Box Office, grossing a mere $68.8K domestically, though it may have still turned a profit or at least broke even when home video sales are factored in since it did not have a massive budget. But it did not generate enough interest to greenlight a sequel.
Should It Be Rebooted?
No. This movie is nearly perfect as is, and there is nothing that a reboot could add. Certainly the Beowulf story will get told again (and it already was two years of this one was released), but this version deserves to be left alone. The only thing that might make sense is a sequel that delivers Beowulf’s encounter with the dragon, and there are plenty of ways that could be tailored to reflect more recent political developments. But as mentioned above, it seems unlikely that will happen.
Interesting Facts:
Apparently the filming of this movie was rather arduous due to storms and financial difficulties, and a documentary was produced titled Wrath of the Gods covering that experience.
The story takes place in what is now Denmark, but much of it was filmed in Iceland providing some breathtaking landscapes that are both beautiful and stark.
Where Can You Watch It?
The movie has been released on DVD and Blu-ray and it is also available VOD. It is available for streaming for free (with ads) on Tubi TV and it is included with Prime Video.
