Until the Light Takes Us
A stark insider documentary tracing Norwegian black metal’s music, mythology, ideology, and crimes through the people who created its legend.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- bleak
- provocative
- confrontational
- late night viewing
- music discovery
What critics said
Critics found the documentary compelling and atmospherically immersive, but questioned its deferential treatment of its subjects and its belated contribution to the subject.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film foregrounds interviews and verité with musicians from the Norwegian black metal scene, including Varg Vikernes, Hellhammer, Abbath, and Demonaz.
Its subject is black metal as a combination of sound, imagery, ideology, identity, and notorious scene history.
The history of murders and church arsons is presented alongside the movement's musical aesthetics and self-created legends.
Rare footage from the Inner Circle's early days is combined with interviews intended to challenge inaccurate depictions of black metal.
Films like Until the Light Takes Us, and why
Some Kind of Monster
music subculture documentary, archival footage, and intimate artist interviews
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
immersive music documentary treatment of a controversial scene and its personalities
The Filth and the Fury
dark music culture, crime, and documentary investigation into extreme artistic communities
Movie Details
- Directors
- Aaron Aites, Audrey Ewell
- Release Date
- 2008-10-31
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (114)
Cast
- Varg Vikernes
- Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg
- Øystein Aarseth
- Per Ohlin
- Olve Eikemo
- Harald Nævdal
- Gylve Nagell
- Bjarne Melgaard
- Bård Eithun
- Kristoffer Rygg
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Night Flight Plus, OVID, The Coda Collection Amazon Channel, Qello Concerts by Stingray Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Until the Light Takes Us about?
- A stark insider documentary tracing Norwegian black metal’s music, mythology, ideology, and crimes through the people who created its legend.
- What is Until the Light Takes Us like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Until the Light Takes Us as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Until the Light Takes Us violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Until the Light Takes Us as moderate.
- What did critics think of Until the Light Takes Us?
- Critics found the documentary compelling and atmospherically immersive, but questioned its deferential treatment of its subjects and its belated contribution to the subject.
- Which films are like Until the Light Takes Us?
- Films with a similar feel include Some Kind of Monster, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, and The Filth and the Fury.
- How long is Until the Light Takes Us?
- Until the Light Takes Us runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Until the Light Takes Us?
- In United States, Until the Light Takes Us streams on Night Flight Plus, OVID, The Coda Collection Amazon Channel, Qello Concerts by Stingray Amazon Channel.
