Draug is a 2018 Swedish horror feature film directed by Karin Engman and Klas Persson, based on a screenplay by the latter. The Ödmården Filmproduction stars Elna Karlsson, Thomas Hedengran, Ralf Beck, Nina Filimoshkina, Urban Bergsten, Matti Boustedt and Oscar Skagerberg.
Draug or Draugr is a Norse mythological undead creature. Draugr live in their graves, often guarding treasure buried with them in their burial mound. They are animated corpses with a corporeal body, unlike ghosts, with similar physical abilities as in life.
Plot:
In the 11th century, a missionary goes missing somewhere in the huge forests bordering the northern parts of Sweden. Among the rescue party chosen to find him is Nanna, a young woman on her first real mission and her first return to the part of the country where she was born. But what they will find deep inside those woods is something else entirely. Something dark. Something ancient. Something evil…
Reviews:
“Accomplishing much more than most slender spook shows do, Draug blazes a memorable trail in several subgenres at once. Its patient smoulder and guerrilla-style may slice at its ability to be broadly appealing. Yet its rich textures of throwback tones and application of Nordic mythos over familiar themes make room for alluringly eerie moods.” Culture Crypt
“Gorgeous visuals, breathtaking landscapes and solid performances can’t overcome a slow pace and what I felt was an incomplete story and shallow characterizations. The film’s not a complete miss but it’s got its share of problems.” Horrorfreak News
“It takes a bold group of people to take on something of this magnitude. To even nail one aspect of this would be a huge success. To string together 90 minutes of historically accurate Viking horror is absolutely epic. In a perfect world, Draug would have been made with no financial strains.” Modern Horrors
Cast and characters:
- Elna Karlsson … Nanna
- Thomas Hedengran … Kettil
- Ralf Beck … Hakon
- Nina Filimoshkina … Deja
- Urban Bergsten … Gunder
- Matti Boustedt … Odd
- Oscar Skagerberg … Kol
- Mikaela Östlin … Randi
- Ola Ljung … Are
- Jessica Westlin … Draug
- Mathias Berglund … Draug
- Astrid Persson … The Girl
- Liv Persson … Kid
- Daga Persson … Kid
- Henrik Edlund … Axman
