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Beowulf & Grendel
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Metascore
53 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: Beowulf & Grendel is a medieval adventure, part legendary fable, part horror-story. Based on the seminal 9th century Anglo-Saxon poem, Beowulf, it tells the blood-soaked tale of a Norse warrior's battle against a great and murderous troll, Grendel, who has laid seige to the kingdom of Hrothgar, the much respected king of the Danes. (Equinoxe Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    75
    Credit Icelandic director Sturla Gunnarsson for having an ambitious vision: He took a look at the eighth-century epic poem "Beowulf" and decided he could cut it down to size. And he has, for better and worse.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    58
    Removing many of the mythical elements of the tale is an intriguing idea that would undoubtedly have paid richer dividends if it didn't mean relying on a heavy who looks like a cross between a Neanderthal on steroids and stilts, and an unusually hirsute wrestler.
  3. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    25
    Imagine the worst "Deadwood" episode ever, and you'll get an idea of the general tone of Beowulf & Grendel, which is full of anachronistic cursing, tortured syntax, dark humor and lots of hairy, homely, filthy-looking people.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. MarkC.
    9
    The movie gave more to the story than the legend. It showed the human part of grendel and his tragic story and how beowulf is struggling with his problems. But the sex scenes were wierd.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. E.T.Brown
    5
    It is supposed to be an action-filled epic. Unfortunately, the movie was not that able to successfully capture it. It was a half-baked movie. On the other hand, the setting of the movie was great. The choice of actors were seemingly appropriate. It's just sad that I found the movie too long to watch. To put it bluntly, it was dragging me to sleep.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. MissionDensity
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pros Cinematography, dramatic landscapes (filmed in Iceland) Crazy, timeless story Swords, armour, Vikings a plenty (a la 13th Warrior, LOTR) Cons Difficult to understand some of the accents and dialogue (Scottish, Irish, Scandinavian tongues all in the mix). Some of the tongue in cheek humour didn't seem quite appropriate. Ended with the thud Few action sequences (one expected more)… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 4 User Reviews