*The Trip*: A Marital Murder Spree with Mixed Charm and Chaos

The opening scene of The Trip is a brutal hammer swing, interrupted by a taser’s jolt—a moment that sets the tone for this Norwegian action-horror-comedy. Directed by Tommy Wirkola, it’s a film that leans hard into genre tropes while trying to carve out its own identity, with mixed results.

Wirkola co-writes this chaotic tale of marital murder gone wrong, and the script’s attempt to balance dark humor, gore, and romance often feels like juggling chainsaws. Aksel Hennie and Noomi Rapace play Lars and Lisa, a couple so fed up with each other that they independently plot each other’s demise during a weekend getaway. The premise is promising: a black comedy about mutual loathing, elevated by the absurdity of their failed assassination attempts. However, when three fugitives (Atle Antonsen, Christian Rubeck, and André Eriksen) crash their murder spree, the film shifts gears into full-blown horror.

What works best is the dynamic between Hennie and Rapace. Their performances are sharp, particularly in the early scenes where their mutual disdain crackles with dark humor. Rapace’s Lisa is especially compelling—she’s cunning, resourceful, and far more than just a damsel in distress. The fight choreography during their escape attempts is well-staged, adding tension to an otherwise predictable plot.

The film falters when it tries to juggle too many tones at once. The horror elements are effective but inconsistent; the fugitives’ introduction feels abrupt, and their backstories are underdeveloped. The comedy lands unevenly, often relying on crude humor rather than wit. Worst of all is the film’s third-act pivot into meta-commentary about Hollywood fame, which feels tacked-on and out of place.

Visually, The Trip has moments of flair—Wirkola’s direction excels in tight, claustrophobic spaces like the cabin’s attic. The sound design also stands out, particularly the eerie silence before violence erupts. But these strengths are undermined by pacing issues; the film rushes through key emotional beats, making it hard to care about Lars and Lisa’s eventual reconciliation.

Ultimately, The Trip is a messy but occasionally entertaining genre exercise.

Tags: The Trip, Mikizi Migona Papatie