The 12th Man

Name: The 12th Man
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller, War
Released: May 4, 2018
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Alexander Zwart, Daniel Frikstad, Eirik Risholm Velle, Eric Dirnes, Håkon T. Nielsen

2018

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Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Midnight | Release Date: May 4, 2018 | NR

Starring: Alexander Zwart, Daniel Frikstad, Eirik Risholm Velle, Eric Dirnes, Håkon T. Nielsen, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen, Marie Blokhus, Thomas Gullestad, Vegar Hoel

Summary: Norway, 1943. After a failed anti-Nazi sabotage mission leaves his eleven comrades dead, Norwegian resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud (Thomas Gullestad) finds himself on the run from the Gestapo through the snowbound Arctic reaches of Scandinavia. It’s a harrowing journey across unforgiving, frozen wilderness that will stretch on forNorway, 1943. After a failed anti-Nazi sabotage mission leaves his eleven comrades dead, Norwegian resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud (Thomas Gullestad) finds himself on the run from the Gestapo through the snowbound Arctic reaches of Scandinavia. It’s a harrowing journey across unforgiving, frozen wilderness that will stretch on for months—and force Jan to take extreme action in order to survive. [IFC Midnight]… Expand

Director: Harald Zwart

Genre(s): Drama, History, Thriller, War

Rating: NR

Runtime: 135 min

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Critic Reviews

April Wolfe

May 2, 2018

Harald Zwart’s thrilling The 12th Man, based on the true story of a Norwegian soldier who escaped the Nazis in World War II, is a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart but also an unexpectedly tender adventure that is as celebratory as it is tense. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

May 2, 2018

Wartime survival epics are a rich genre unto themselves, and with The 12th Man, Norway has one that ranks among the very best. Read full review

Teo Bugbee

May 3, 2018

The reward of Mr. Zwart’s attention to the unique details of this historical account is that Jan’s path to safety frequently shocks, offering scenes of defiance that are unfamiliar or unexpected. In a familiar genre, The 12th Man preserves the element of surprise by understanding its terrain. Read full review

Frank Scheck

May 3, 2018

The sort of suspenseful, old-fashioned war movie that should particularly appealing to older viewers, provided they don't mind reading subtitles. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

May 4, 2018

When you’ve hired human actors to do nothing but sneer, shout, and shoot guns, their onscreen function can get ever so slightly monotonous. This is not the movie’s only reliance on commonplaces but it’s the most prominent. Read full review

Josh Wise

May 3, 2018

At 130 minutes, it isn't a short film, and its most intriguing elements, much like Baalsrud's rations, are in short supply. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Jan 16, 2019

This extraordinary story has unfortunately been turned into a handsomely produced but laborious, drawn-out and dramatically inert movie. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bitash

Jun 10, 2018

I'm not really into war movies and the movie having subtitles did not particularly make it appealing to me but I gave it a try and I am so glad I did. It is a suspenseful exciting true story that left me wanting to see where it goes. This is a story about courage, hope, perseverience whichI'm not really into war movies and the movie having subtitles did not particularly make it appealing to me but I gave it a try and I am so glad I did. It is a suspenseful exciting true story that left me wanting to see where it goes. This is a story about courage, hope, perseverience which was conveyed so well through the actors and outstanding directing. An absolute must see, way way better than I ever imagined. The characters are very believable, at no point do I even think they are acting. I believed dry scene. Well done.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

adrenilinmatt

May 16, 2019

Absolutely harrowing depiction of a special group of human beings journey to get one important man across some terrible terrain in nazj occupied lands. At times excruciating to watch, but so good. Slow pace, but if you have any patience, it pays off big. 10/10

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

muldjord

Jan 7, 2021

A chilling (quite literally), dramatic and also sweet movie about Jan Baalsrud and the patriots who helped him survive his trip across the Sweden border during WW2.

You really root for this guy through all of his / their ordeals. It actually has some comedic moments as well, which helps toA chilling (quite literally), dramatic and also sweet movie about Jan Baalsrud and the patriots who helped him survive his trip across the Sweden border during WW2.

You really root for this guy through all of his / their ordeals. It actually has some comedic moments as well, which helps to break up the misery throughout. There is not one boring minute in this film.

It is extremely well done too. The acting is top-notch from everyone. The set pieces are, naturally, stunning! The northern Norway with the icy hills and mountains are a thing of legends. And this movie uses those backdrops in the best possible ways.

There really isn't a single thing in this movie I didn't like. Maybe except for the very last part of the movie. It does go a tiny bit overboard at the very end with the fantastical dramatization. But nothing that made me appreciate the movie and the story any less.… Expand