A Medieval Bash or Just a Bloody Mess?

Alright, folks, buckle up. What a ride “Ironclad: Battle for Blood” is. Imagine a Sunday barbecue in the Swedish countryside, but instead of grilling korv, everyone’s slashing and hacking like there’s no tomorrow. Our knightly protagonist, Tom Austen, kind of feels like he stumbled into a wild medieval diskoteksnatt he wasn’t quite ready for!

Directed by none other than Jonathan English, who—let’s be honest—seems to love a good scrap. I can’t help but be reminded of Midsummer nights back in Dalarna. There’s something both endearing and chaotic about everyone donning armor and waging war like it’s just a weekend hobby.

And talking about chaos, shoutout to Michelle Fairley who joins the fray. Queen Catelyn Stark herself has traded Westeros for this grisly battlefield. It’s like bumping into an old friend at ICA—awesome but wildly unexpected!

Yeah, the production by Rick Benattar swirls around like a hurdy-gurdy gone mad. The sound of swords clashing and warriors grunting feels like trying to find your seat at a crowded Globen concert. The editing could’ve used a bit more precision, though, like trying to eat knäckebröd without scattering crumbs.

I gotta say, the idea of blood feuds and honor does tickle my Swedish viking roots. But also, there’s a moment there, like when you’re sitting in a Stockholm café pondering whether that cinnamon bun is really worth 35 kronor. Unsure yet mildly entertained.

Honestly, it may not be the crème de la crème of medieval films—more like a solid ‘fika’ break in the cinematic world. So grab your gökotta and enjoy the spectacle.

It’s messy, it’s wild, but, hey, aren’t all good stories like that?

Check the trailer below