The Trip

Noomi Rapace and Tommy Wirkola’s Bloody Dark Comedy: The Wild Ride Behind The Trip

Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola has never shied away from mixing genres, but The Trip (2021) might be his most chaotic cocktail yet—a horror-action-comedy where a couple’s getaway spirals into a blood-soaked battle for survival. latestnetflix.com's read is that Starring Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie, the film leans into Wirkola’s signature blend of gore and gallows humor, but this time with a twist: the violence isn’t just for shock value—it’s the punchline.

A Director’s Playground: Wirkola’s Signature Style

Wirkola, born in 1979, has built a career on genre-blending films that refuse to take themselves too seriously. His resume includes Dead Snow (2009), a Nazi zombie splatterfest, and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013), a hyper-stylized action-horror mashup . The Trip continues this tradition, described by critics as a "dark comedy" where the carnage is as much a character as the leads . The film’s original Norwegian title, I onde dager ("In Evil Days"), hints at its tone—equal parts brutal and absurd.

Wirkola’s approach often involves pushing boundaries, and The Trip is no exception. The movie’s runtime clocks in at 113 minutes, a length that suggests a deliberate pace to let the madness unfold . While the evidence doesn’t detail specific behind-the-scenes antics, Wirkola’s past work suggests a set where practical effects and dark humor collide—think fake blood by the gallon and improvised one-liners between takes.

Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie: A Couple on the Edge (Literally)

Rapace, best known for her role as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Hennie, a frequent Wirkola collaborator (Dead Snow 2), play a bickering couple whose cabin retreat turns into a fight for their lives. The dynamic between them is central to the film’s appeal—equal parts toxic and hilarious, with Rapace’s character delivering some of the movie’s most unhinged moments .

Reviews highlight Rapace’s fearless performance, with some calling it a standout in her career. One YouTube review describes her as "the heart of the film’s insanity," noting how she balances physical comedy with genuine menace . Hennie, meanwhile, plays the straight man to her chaos, a role that fits his deadpan style. The chemistry between the two is electric, though whether that’s scripted or a result of their off-screen rapport remains unconfirmed.

The Netflix Effect: A Global Audience for Norwegian Mayhem

The Trip found a second life on Netflix, where its over-the-top violence and dark humor resonated with audiences craving something different. The streaming giant’s algorithm likely helped the film reach viewers who might have missed it in theaters, especially outside Norway . The movie’s international appeal is a testament to Wirkola’s ability to craft stories that transcend language barriers—even if the humor is distinctly Scandinavian.

Critics have been divided, with some praising its originality and others dismissing it as gratuitous. The film holds a 6.6/10 rating on SensCritique, based on 868 votes, suggesting a cult following rather than universal acclaim . That said, for fans of Wirkola’s work, The Trip delivers exactly what they’ve come to expect: a bloody, bonkers good time.

What We Don’t Know (Yet)

Despite the buzz, details about the film’s production are scarce. There’s no confirmed word on the budget, shooting locations, or whether the cast endured any real injuries during the film’s more intense sequences. Rumors of improvised dialogue or on-set pranks—common in Wirkola’s films—remain just that: rumors. Without deeper access to behind-the-scenes footage or interviews, the full story of The Trip’s creation stays locked in the Norwegian wilderness.

One thing is clear, though: Wirkola and Rapace aren’t afraid to get messy. Whether The Trip is a one-off experiment or the start of a new franchise remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a wild ride worth taking—if you can stomach the bloodshed.