The British film industry has quietly been responsible for several low budget, direct-to-DVD viking movies during the last few years, including VIKINGS: THE DARKEST DAY (2013), VIKINGS: THE BESERKERS (2014) VIKING LEGACY (2016), VIKING SIEGE (2017) and THE LOST VIKING (2018). This entry in the genre was filmed as VIKING DESTINY (and is being released in the US under that title) but underwent a last minute name change in the UK and was released as OF GODS AND WARRIORS (personally, I prefer the original title). It boasts crisp photography, effective and well directed action scenes, and good performances from the entire cast, apart from a clearly bored Terence Stamp as Odin, who recites his lines in a weary monotone and does just enough to earn his pay-cheque. The narrative mostly moves along briskly, though there are some pacing problems during the second half of the film, when the on-the-run heroine encounters a co-operative of happy-clappy, vegetarian flower-people and understandably everything goes rather flat. But that minor quibble aside, this is an enjoyable watch. The final scene hints at a sequel, and I hope we get one.
Review of Viking Destiny
