Lords of Chaos

Lords of Chaos

Year: 2019

Runtime: 118 min

Language: English

Director: Jonas Åkerlund

Echo Score: 50
BiographyDramaThrillerHorrorMusic

During the 1980s in Oslo, Norway, a young and rebellious teenager named Euronymous becomes deeply involved in the burgeoning "true Norwegian black metal" scene. As the frontman of the band Mayhem, he actively seeks notoriety through increasingly provocative and dangerous stunts. These actions blur the lines between creative expression and destructive anarchy, leading to escalating chaos and unforeseen consequences within the band and the wider music community.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Lords of Chaos yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Lords of Chaos (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Lords of Chaos (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1987

Set in 1987, a time when metal music was evolving and giving rise to several iconic subgenres. The late 1980s saw the emergence of black metal, characterized by its dark themes and underground ethos, which in this story culminates in extreme actions and tragic consequences for the musicians involved.

Location

Norway, Helvete

The movie takes place primarily in Norway, known for its rich history and cultural significance in the black metal music scene. Helvete, which means 'Hell' in Norwegian, is a record store opened by Euronymous that became a hub for fans and musicians of the genre, fostering a sense of community and fueling the burgeoning black metal movement.

🏴‍☠️ Norway 🏪 Store

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:54

Main Characters – Lords of Chaos (2019)

Meet the key characters of Lords of Chaos (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Euronymous (Rory Culkin)

Euronymous is depicted as a visionary but deeply flawed figure who establishes Mayhem and curates an image for the band that marries artistry with violence. His ambition drives him to extremes, and his morally questionable choices, including the handling of Dead's death, reveal a troubling fascination with death and notoriety.

🎸 Musician 🖤 Troubled Soul

Dead (Jack Kilmer)

Dead is portrayed as a hauntingly fragile individual whose struggle with mental health culminates in his tragic suicide. His erratic behavior and self-harm during performances leave a lasting impact on the band and solidify his legacy within the black metal culture, reflecting the price of artistic expression gone awry.

👻 Icon 🎭 Tragic

Varg Vikernes (Emory Cohen)

Varg Vikernes emerges as a cunning antagonist, driven by ambition and a desire for power. His transformation from a fan to a mainstay in Mayhem is marked by his rebellious acts, including church burnings that elevate him to infamy. Ultimately, his violent confrontation with Euronymous underscores the destructive nature of their rivalry.

😈 Antagonist 🔥 Rebel

Necrobutcher (Jonathan Barnwell)

Necrobutcher is depicted as disillusioned with the increasingly dark path taken by the band. His departure highlights the moral conflicts within the group as they navigate fame, chaos, and the consequences of their extreme lifestyle choices. He serves as a counterpoint to Euronymous' reckless ambition.

🎸 Bassist 💔 Disappointed

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:54

Major Themes – Lords of Chaos (2019)

Explore the central themes of Lords of Chaos (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🖤 Death

The theme of death is prevalent throughout the narrative, particularly in the tragic demise of Dead. His suicide acts as a catalyst for the dark events that unfold, highlighting the self-destructive tendencies of the characters involved in the black metal scene and the often morbid fascination with mortality.

⚔️ Violence

Violence permeates the film, from the brutal treatment of the body post-suicide to the eventual murder of Euronymous. The characters' actions are punctuated by acts of aggression, both against themselves and others, underscoring a chaotic environment fueled by rivalry and a quest for power within the band.

🔥 Rebellion

The theme of rebellion is expressed through the actions of Varg, particularly in the arson of churches and his ultimate betrayal of Euronymous. This resistance against societal norms reflects the larger thematic constructs of the black metal subculture, where musicians often challenged prevailing conventions and embraced anarchy.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:54

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

True crime subculture stories like Lords of Chaos

Stories of fringe communities escalating into violence and self-destruction.If you liked the grim portrayal of the Norwegian black metal scene in Lords of Chaos, explore these movies about musical subcultures and fringe groups spiraling into crime and chaos. These films capture the dark side of rebellion and the real-life consequences of extreme lifestyles.

chaoticrebelliousdisturbingprovocativegrimanxiousbrutal

Narrative Summary

Movies in this thread typically follow a group or individual within a tight-knit, non-mainstream community. The narrative charts an escalation from provocative behavior to genuine criminality, driven by internal power struggles, toxic friendships, and a nihilistic worldview. The journey is one of inevitable decline, often ending in tragedy.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on a specific subcultural world as the catalyst for a dark, true-crime-esque narrative. They share a high-intensity, disturbing tone that examines how the search for identity within a group can lead to moral collapse and violence.

Bleak artist biopics with moral decay like Lords of Chaos

Tragedies fueled by the dangerous pursuit of artistic purity and infamy.For viewers who appreciated the bleak character study in Lords of Chaos, this collection features movies about artists whose lives are consumed by their work. These films explore similar themes of fame, infamy, and the psychological unraveling that can accompany extreme artistic ambition.

morally ambiguouspsychological unravelingobsessivebleakdisturbingheavytragic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a protagonist whose artistic vision is inextricably linked with a descent into personal chaos. The story is a character-driven tragedy, showing how the pursuit of an extreme aesthetic or ideology corrupts their relationships and morality, culminating in a bleak and destructive outcome.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by a central theme: the corrosive nature of artistic obsession. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and a focus on a character's psychological unraveling, making the viewing experience intense, bleak, and morally complex.

Unlock the Full Story of Lords of Chaos

Don't stop at just watching — explore Lords of Chaos in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Lords of Chaos is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Lords of Chaos Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Lords of Chaos, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Lords of Chaos Summary

Lords of Chaos Timeline

Track the full timeline of Lords of Chaos with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Lords of Chaos Timeline

Lords of Chaos Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Lords of Chaos that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Lords of Chaos Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Lords of Chaos

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Lords of Chaos: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Lords of Chaos