Riders of Justice

Name: Riders of Justice
Genre: Action, Drama, Comedy
Released: May 14, 2021
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 81
Cast: Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Anne Birgitte Lind, Gustav Lindh, Lars Brygmann

2021

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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Riders Of Justice (US Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnet Releasing | Release Date: May 14, 2021 | Not Rated

Starring: Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Anne Birgitte Lind, Gustav Lindh, Lars Brygmann, Mads Mikkelsen, Nicolas Bro, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Omar Shargawi, Roland Møller

Movie Facts:

VOD release: May 21, 2021.

Summary: Recently-deployed Markus (Mads Mikkelsen) is forced to return home to care for his teenage daughter after his wife is killed in a tragic train accident. But when a survivor of the wrecked train surfaces claiming foul play, Markus begins to suspect his wife was murdered and embarks on a revenge-fueled mission to find those responsible.

Director: Anders Thomas Jensen

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Karen Gordon

May 19, 2021

Jensen is a master at finding that sweet spot between oddness and pathos. Mikkelsen makes you believe it’s all possible. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

May 20, 2021

A kind of popcorn movie that doesn't just let wit and storytelling serve as the garnish for big-bang action, but makes that its actual priority. Read full review

Brad Wheeler

May 27, 2021

This dandy foreign feature from Anders Thomas Jensen is only posing as a revenge film – clickbait for the violence junkies and the popcorn crowd. Yes, leading man Mads Mikkelsen plays a brooding killing machine out to avenge the loss of a loved one. But Riders of Justice, in Danish with English subtitles, is actually a pitch-black comedy about questions, coincidences and ideas that pile up faster than the body count. Read full review

Matthew Anderson

May 11, 2021

An expertly handled plot, interweaving lives, coincidence, past trauma and circumstance, is concerned with far more than mere bloody vengeance. Five years since the delirious oddity that was Men & Chicken, Jensen gets members of the old band back together for a thrilling, poignant film which sees writer-director and cast on top form. Read full review

Jessica Kiang

May 17, 2021

Such wild zigzags in tone — between bumbling physical comedy and lightly stinging satirical observation, between heartbreaking vulnerability and bursts of gleefully vicious, slickly choreographed violence — ought not to work at all. And yet they do, thanks to Jensen’s calm, slightly wry command of the story, and a cast that have all understood the assignment, even when their respective assignments are all quite different. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

May 25, 2021

There are plenty of left turns (and the occasional dead end) here, but Riders of Justice is no waste of time. The mayhem is mixed with unexpected thoughtfulness. Read full review

Charles Bramesco

May 11, 2021

A scattered but likable jumble, the film has a thoughtful manner more than it has actual thoughts, much like the trio of quasi-intellectuals joining forces with Markus. Read full review

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User Reviews

Ananisapta

Oct 23, 2021

This is a brilliant film about about love and madness and self-regard and acceptance of fate. It's impossible to tell where it's going at any given minute, so just hitch a ride and enjoy the scenery.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Rebecca31

Jul 29, 2021

Riders of Justice is an insane thrill ride of emotions, packed full of action and darkly comedic. Director Anders Thomas Jensen has given us a wonderfully odd film that I urge all of you to see.

Markus (Mads Mikkelsen) must return home to his teenage daughter Mathilde (Andrea HeickRiders of Justice is an insane thrill ride of emotions, packed full of action and darkly comedic. Director Anders Thomas Jensen has given us a wonderfully odd film that I urge all of you to see.

Markus (Mads Mikkelsen) must return home to his teenage daughter Mathilde (Andrea Heick Gadeberg) after his wife tragically dies in a train accident. While only beginning to deal with the shock and grief of this horrific accident, mathematics geek Otto (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and his two colleagues Lennart (Lars Brygmann) and Emmenthaler (Nicolas Bro) show up and strongly believe that this train crash was no accident and there is a far more sinister reason for the incident. Ok the genre for this is a little strange and a wonderful mix of everything, cleverly juggling many different themes at once. For the most part it’s an action, thriller and if you happen to have quite a dark sense of humour then it’s got more laughs throughout than most apparent “comedies” being made these days. Hard as nails Mads Mikkelsen acting alongside the socially awkward mathematical nerds is a surprising mix that really works. The deadpan delivery is done expertly, it’s funny one minute and completely serious the next. Riders of Justice is a brilliant story and perfectly finds the balance between action, drama and humour.

Right film fans the selection at the moment hasn’t exactly been wonderful right now what with the year that’s in it but Riders of Justice is not to be missed. Your local multiplex may not be showing it, at least mine isn’t but that’s no excuse, find a cinema showing Riders of Justice and thank me later. Highly recommended.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TVJerry

Jan 9, 2022

Mads Mikkelsen plays a soldier who returns home to take care of his teenage daughter after his wife was killed in a train accident. What starts as a murder mystery/revenge story morphs into much more. The trio he assembles to help him track down the culprit is a group of misfits that provideMads Mikkelsen plays a soldier who returns home to take care of his teenage daughter after his wife was killed in a train accident. What starts as a murder mystery/revenge story morphs into much more. The trio he assembles to help him track down the culprit is a group of misfits that provide moments of dark comedy and character development. Interestingly, the continual debate over fate turns out to be more of a thematic statement that expected. The final encounter adds a thriller element. Like many foreign films, this is unique for its engaging characters, surprising plotting and ultimately rewarding experience. (In Danish with subtitles)… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

bertobellamy

Apr 6, 2022

'Riders of Justice' is a cool blend of black comedy, existential drama, and action. Mads Mikkelsen really couldn't do wrong. And although there are some very weird and absurd moments, I did enjoy this. Not a lot of films like these deal with serious topics such as grief and getting to know'Riders of Justice' is a cool blend of black comedy, existential drama, and action. Mads Mikkelsen really couldn't do wrong. And although there are some very weird and absurd moments, I did enjoy this. Not a lot of films like these deal with serious topics such as grief and getting to know your stranded relatives.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

May 16, 2021

I honestly thought this film would go for another style, but this is actually an action movie blended with comedy.

It does have its dramatic beginning, but the way the narrative is conducted, it points to a very different outcome, and that to some extent could've been disastrous, but RidersI honestly thought this film would go for another style, but this is actually an action movie blended with comedy.

It does have its dramatic beginning, but the way the narrative is conducted, it points to a very different outcome, and that to some extent could've been disastrous, but Riders of Justice manages to succeed in its mix.

But I do have to say, this is black humor, never goofy humor.
I'm not denying that a lot of it will depend on the viewer's taste, but don't expect to see Mads behaving like a dummy. In fact, his character is absolute seriousness, it's his co-stars, and their respective characters, who cause the funny and violent situations in which they find themselves involved.

The problems the movie has are more than anything the extreme lightness of the argument, and how they all end up muddled.
Also the annoying daughter of Mads's character, because she's more volatile than I could bear, and the ending that felt anticlimactic.
Other than that, it was quite an entertaining ride.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

garethvk

May 14, 2021

Mads Mikkelsen stars as Markus in the Danish film “Riders of Justice” which is a compelling watch filled with complex characters.

When his wife is killed in an apparent accident; Markus is recalled from his overseas assignment to come home and care for his daughter Mathilde (Andrea HeickMads Mikkelsen stars as Markus in the Danish film “Riders of Justice” which is a compelling watch filled with complex characters.

When his wife is killed in an apparent accident; Markus is recalled from his overseas assignment to come home and care for his daughter Mathilde (Andrea Heick Gadeberg). The fact that Markus is not able to open up and has anger issues is a deep wedge between him and his daughter and his refusal to accept the therapy being offered to them only makes things worse.

When a recently fired man named Otto (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) who survived the accident begins to question if the accident was actually an attack on a person set to testify; he contacts Markus to pass along his theories.

Since the police do not seem interested in the theories Otto is proposing, he and his friends convince Markus to look into things and Otto expresses guilt over giving his seat to Markus’s wife which he believes resulted in her death.

As things unfold, Markus turns into an agent of vengeance and soon instructs Markus and his friends in the proper use of weapons as they look to exact their revenge.

While the film is not an action-fest in the classic sense; it does have a few action sequences. What the film really focuses on is the emotionally disturbed characters who are all dealing with various forms of distress.

The interplay between the characters as they bond over a common experience and deal with their emotional issues is a compelling mix of themes and makes for a more unique viewing experience.

In the end, the film is an entertaining mix which is well worth a look.

3.5 stars out of 5
Skewed and Reviewed… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Lambo442

Sep 1, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It starts of really well, setting the stage for an intense revenge thriller. You identify with the protagonist's rage as it's revealed to him that his wife's death wasn't an accident, and you feel the goosebumps as he starts hunting them down. Then it's all taken away from you as he discovers the people he's brutally killed have nothing to do with the murder and it was all an accident. Now you just think everyone you liked and identified with is a psychopath and they become unlikeable. It totally negates the whole point of the film and the reason you were invested in the first place. Strangely they all just adjust to this reality very quickly and are sitting around joking and eating in no time. Quite often the comedic element (which is done really well) detracts from it's presentation and tone as a gritty thriller. It starts off working quite well but then the comedy takes over and it gets unbelievable. Top it all off with some pretentious monologues about the nature of fate and causality and you're left with one unsatisfying mess. Mads rocks that beard well though. Expect some cultural stereotyping as well, regarding overweight and gay people. I thought Scandinavia was progressive? Cheap jokes aiming for cheap laughs.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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