Exit (Movie Review)

Exit is a suspenseful Scandinavian thriller that stars Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) and Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood). The film released on DVD in the UK on July 8th with a beautifully redesigned cover that is far superior to the one initially released in 2006. With the popularity of Nordic films on the rise as seen with such films as The Hunt and A Hijacking, it is no surprise that Arrow Films has decided to bring Exit to the attention of movie-lovers everywhere. A film that initially flew below the radar with its release several years back is finally getting the awareness it deserves.


The film centers around a rich businessman named Thomas (Mads Mikkelsen) who has everything a man could want from his beautiful family to an extravagant luxury home. Thomas has lined his pockets for years with his earnings from his finance company Nova and greed starts to slowly cloud his judgment—he then embarks on one of his biggest deals yet—where he plans to sell his share to the IT company Cataegis while the stock is at its highest price and then exit with a ton of cash in his pocket. However, things take a sudden change for the worst, when his business associate Wilhelm (Börje Ahlstedt ) is found dead. Of course, all evidence points to Thomas, and he becomes involved in a high-octane conspiracy were he must prove his innocence and protect his family in the process.


Thomas seeks the help of his trusted allies, one of which is Alexander Skarsgård as Fabian von Klerking, and together they must use all of their raw survival instincts to survive. Exit is an exhilarating thriller directed by Peter Lindmark that is full of twists and turns. Mikkelsen delivers a convincing and raw performance of a desolate man driven to the edge and will do anything to save those he loves before it is too late. Skarsgård's role is small, but he manages to breath life and character into the wimpy Fabian, and it lets True Blood fans see him in an entirely different light. The movie delivers an amazingly well written script that is combined with great acting performances for an overall enjoyable experience.



Exit starts out as a simple corporate crime plot that manifests into a full out war between Danish gangsters and the Russian mob. It utilizes a familiar crime-story setup where no deed goes unpunished and proves money can't buy you everything. The crime-thriller features some nice choreographed action sequences that work perfectly with its melodramatic plot. In the end, Exit is a compelling film that combines skilled ensemble acting and highly absorbing cinematography to produce a frightening, cinematic piece far exceeding the ranks of the usual crime-thriller.

Score: 9 out of 10



Movie Information
Directed by Peter Lindmark

Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel Fröler, Kirsti Eline Torhaug and Börje Ahlstedt.

Release Date: July 8, 2013

Formats: DVD

Language: Danish (English Subtitles)

Region: 2

Catalogue Number: FCD855

Brought to you by: Arrow Films