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Viking Destiny
Viking Destiny
Viking Destiny
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Viking Destiny
Seize Your Destiny
Directed byDavid L.G. Hughes
Written byDavid L.G. Hughes
Andee Ryder
Produced byDavid L.G. Hughes
StarringTerence Stamp
Anna Demetriou
Paul Freeman
Will Mellor
Murray McArthur
Ian Beattie
CinematographySara Deane
Edited byLloyd George
Music byTom Morrison
Distributed bySaban Films
Release date
  • 30 July 2018 (2018-07-30)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Viking Destiny (also known as Of Gods and Warriors)[1] is a 2018 film directed by David L.G. Hughes. The film was released on 5 October 2018 by Fatal Black and Saban Films.[2]

Plot

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A Viking Princess (Demetriou) is forced to flee her kingdom after being framed for the murder of her father the King. Under the guidance of the god Odin (Terence Stamp), she travels the world gaining wisdom and building the army she needs to win back her throne.

Production

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Filmed between 8 June and 12 July 2017 at Leslie Hill, Red Hall, Ballycarry, and O'Harabrook House near Ballymoney in Northern Ireland.[3]

Critical reception

[edit]

The film was largely negatively received by reviewers. The Guardian's Cath Clarke described it as "fantastically wooden and dodgily acted"[4] and Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times summed it up as "low-budget Nordic nonsense".[5] In contrast James Hanton of Starburst asserted that, of the Viking movies in circulation, "this one punches above its weight in comparison to many"[6] and Flash Bang Film Review commented that it "delivers a very high standard of action in front of the camera and strong filmatism [sic] behind it.".[7]

Cast

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Released

[edit]

In 2018, the film was released on DVD in the United States (Region 1 format) and streamed on Netflix in 2019.[8]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Viking Destiny

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Viking Destiny (also known as Of Gods and Warriors) is a 2018 British action-adventure written and directed by David L.G. Hughes. The story centers on Helle of Volsung (), who is framed for the murder of her father, King Asmund (), and forced to flee her kingdom. Guided by the Norse god (), she travels across ancient lands, gathering allies and wisdom to build an army and reclaim her rightful throne from usurpers. The film features a supporting cast including as the warrior Torstein/Steiner, Paul Freeman as the antagonist Tarburn, as Lord Soini, Victoria Broom as Queen Alva, and in a key role. With a runtime of 91 minutes, it was produced on a modest budget and released theatrically in the United States on October 5, 2018, by Saban Films. Critically, Viking Destiny received mixed to negative reviews, earning a 4.4 out of 10 rating on from over 1,200 users and a 13% approval score on based on eight reviews, with critics noting its ambitious themes but critiquing its low production values and uneven pacing.

Overview

Plot

In the kingdom of Volsung, Princess Helle is born to King Asmund and his queen amid a foretelling her significance, but following the queen's death in , the infant Helle is secretly swapped with her cousin—the son of Asmund's brother, Prince —to protect her from potential threats. Raised by Bard as his own for 21 years, Helle grows into a skilled , unaware of her true heritage until King Asmund's murder disrupts the realm. Framed for her father's assassination by Bard and his conspirators, including Queen Alva, Helle is forced into from Volsung, evading assassins and navigating treacherous escapes across sea and land. During her flight, she encounters the god in a visionary guise, who imparts divine guidance, revealing her destined role as the rightful ruler and urging her to seek vengeance and redemption through reclaiming her birthright. Under Odin's counsel, Helle begins forming an unlikely army of allies, recruiting formidable warriors such as the brute Torstein and the steadfast Soini, alongside outcasts and a tribe of woodland pacifists who provide unconventional support. The group embarks on a perilous journey through hostile territories, confronting betrayers like Tarburn and enduring battles against mythical perils, including a lair and rival forces loyal to . Helle's arc traces her evolution from a politically naive , sheltered by false familial bonds, into a resolute leader forged by loss and divine purpose, embodying themes of predestined fate, godly intervention, and woven with Viking lore of gods and heroes. The narrative builds toward a climactic confrontation for Volsung's throne, where Helle's assembled forces challenge the usurpers in a grand showdown blending mythological elements and brutal combat.

Cast

The principal cast of Viking Destiny features a mix of established performers and emerging talent in roles inspired by and Viking lore.
ActorRole
Princess Helle of Volsung
King Asmund of Volsung
Victoria BroomQueen Alva of Volsung
Lord Soini
Torstein/Steiner
Paul FreemanTarburn
Vern
Timo NieminenPrince Bard of Volsung
Kirkwood
Martin EklöfTogrimm
Supporting roles include as Geirstein, Kajsa Mohammar as Tait, and others such as Bobby Marno as Kings Guard and Luke Hayden as . Notable casting highlights include veteran actor portraying the god , who serves as a guiding figure in the story, bringing his extensive experience from films like Superman (1978) and (1999) to the mythological role. In contrast, Anna makes her film debut as the lead Princess Helle, marking a significant breakthrough for the LAMDA graduate following her stage work.

Production

Development

Viking Destiny was written and directed by David L.G. Hughes, building on his experience from the 2012 low-budget crime drama Hard Boiled Sweets, which he also wrote and directed. The screenplay draws inspiration from Norse mythology and Viking sagas, centering on themes of destiny, exile, and divine guidance in a historical fantasy setting. The production team was assembled with Andee Ryder serving as a key producer alongside Hughes, while executive producers included Alan Bannatyne, Phil Hunt, Kwesi Dickson, and . Production companies included Misfits Entertainment and Fatal Black Films. Financing came from Head Gear Films in partnership with Screen, supporting this independent low-budget project. Development progressed from script completion in the mid-2010s to initial announcements in early 2017, with secured for the pivotal role of at the that February, highlighting the project's momentum toward production. This casting milestone helped attract further interest ahead of .

Filming

Principal photography for Viking Destiny commenced on June 8, 2017, and concluded on July 12, 2017, spanning roughly five weeks of intensive shooting. The production was entirely filmed in to capture authentic, rugged landscapes evocative of Viking-era , with primary locations including Leslie Hill and O'Harabrook House near , as well as Red Hall in Ballycarry. Additional exterior scenes were captured at Whiterocks in , where crew and cast simulated Viking battles amid the coastal terrain. Sara Deane served as , overseeing the visual capture of the film's action sequences and atmospheric period settings during these outdoor-heavy shoots. The on-set execution emphasized practical effects and location-based authenticity, leveraging Northern Ireland's diverse natural environments to minimize reliance on extensive set builds.

Distribution and reception

Release

Viking Destiny had its world premiere at the European Film Market in on February 17, 2018. It was released theatrically in the on July 30, 2018, under its original title Of Gods and Warriors. The film received a in the United States on October 5, 2018, distributed by Saban Films. Due to its independent production, the theatrical rollout was restricted to select markets, with no reported domestic gross and an estimated $43,820 from U.S. sales. In the United States, home media availability followed soon after, with DVD and Blu-ray editions released on December 4, 2018, by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Digital purchase and rental options became available concurrently through platforms like and Amazon. Internationally, variations included the alternate title Of Gods and Warriors in the UK and select European markets, with DVD and Blu-ray premieres in on October 26, 2018. The film expanded its reach via streaming in 2019, when it was added to , providing broader accessibility to global audiences until its removal in February 2021. As of November 2025, Viking Destiny remains available for streaming on services such as (with ads) and , alongside ongoing digital rental options. No major re-releases or theatrical revivals have occurred in the 2020s.

Critical reception

Viking Destiny received predominantly negative reviews from critics upon its release, reflecting its low-budget constraints and execution flaws. On , it garnered a 13% Tomatometer score based on 8 reviews, with critics noting a lack of excitement in its battle sequences and visual flair. assigned it a score of 25 out of 100 from 4 critics, categorizing the reception as "generally unfavorable." Audience responses echoed this sentiment, with an IMDb rating of 4.4 out of 10 from 1,300 users and a average of 2.7 out of 5 based on 243 ratings (as of November 2025). Prominent critiques focused on the film's clichéd narrative and production shortcomings. Cath Clarke of described it as a "fantastically wooden and dodgily acted British Viking fantasy" that seemed filmed on a in a muddy field, emphasizing its amateurish quality. Jeannette Catsoulis in labeled it "low-budget Nordic nonsense," noting how it underscored the superior craftsmanship of television series like . Uneven acting, particularly among the supporting cast, and cheap effects were recurrent complaints, often diminishing the intended mythological ambition. A few reviews offered tempered praise amid the negativity. Starburst Magazine asserted that the film "punches above its weight" relative to other pseudo-historical Viking productions, crediting its solid action and occasional surprises in the storyline. Terence Stamp's performance as was frequently highlighted as a standout, providing to an otherwise underwhelming ensemble, while the incorporation of Norse lore showed some conceptual promise despite execution issues. The film garnered no major awards or notable festival accolades, further underscoring its limited critical and industry impact.

References

  1. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/viking_destiny
  2. https://www.sabanfilms.com/films/viking-destiny/
  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5657280/
  4. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/viking-destiny-2018
  5. https://rogersmovienation.com/2018/09/30/movie-review-viking-destiny/
  6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5657280/plotsummary/
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/04/movies/viking-destiny-review.html
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5657280/fullcredits/
  9. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/537347-viking-destiny/cast
  10. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/viking_destiny/cast-and-crew
  11. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9014541/bio/
  12. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2179418-anna-demetriou
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1711458/
  14. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/berlin-terence-stamp-play-god-war-odin-viking-destiny-974231/
  15. https://film.lindholmen.se/en/news/viking-destiny-aiming-north-america
  16. http://www.filmmodeentertainment.com/news/details/63c94ea7-d030-4338-83aa-df2e764d66db
  17. https://northernirelandscreen.co.uk/production-catalogue/viking-destiny/
  18. https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cannes-terence-stamp-viking-destiny-north-america-1202804033/
  19. https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/portrush-beach-under-seige-vikings-13302678
  20. https://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/berlin/berlin_world_premiere_of_viking_destiny_starring_terence_stamp_and_martyn_ford
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5657280/releaseinfo/
  22. https://www.movieinsider.com/m16455/viking-destiny
  23. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Viking-Destiny-(2018)
  24. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Viking-Destiny-%282018%29
  25. https://usa.newonnetflix.info/info/80219974
  26. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/of-gods-and-warriors
  27. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/viking-destiny/
  28. https://letterboxd.com/film/viking-destiny/
  29. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/viking_destiny/reviews
  30. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/viking-destiny/critic-reviews/
  31. https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/of-gods-and-warriors/
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