Is Lords of Chaos woke?
Lords of Chaos (2018)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2018
Wokeness Score
2/10
Not woke
No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key Summary Points
- Pure focus on 1990s Norwegian black metal scene violence and rivalries with no modern social messaging.
- Historical portrayal of extreme male subculture avoids any progressive framing or diversity elements.
- Story driven by real events of arson and murder without activist lectures or identity politics.
Wokeness Analysis
Lords of Chaos (2018) is a biographical horror film depicting the real events of the early 1990s Norwegian black metal scene centered on Mayhem and its members Euronymous and Varg Vikernes. The narrative focuses exclusively on the formation of the band, publicity stunts involving church arsons, interpersonal rivalries, and escalating violence including murder, all drawn from historical facts without any overlay of contemporary progressive ideologies. There are no elements of diversity casting, inclusion messaging, critiques of traditional masculinity framed as toxic in a modern activist sense, or social commentary on race, gender, or identity politics. The film portrays a hyper-masculine, countercultural youth subculture rooted in extremism and Satanism as it historically existed, with characters engaging in behaviors that modern progressive narratives would typically condemn outright rather than contextualize sympathetically. Reviews note its basis in verifiable events and its emphasis on the chaotic, violent outcomes without injecting didactic lessons about tolerance or systemic issues. Any references to far-right symbols or politics are minimal, historical nods to the era rather than vehicles for commentary, and the story prioritizes entertainment through drama and horror over ideological instruction. This results in a straightforward retelling of a notorious music scene's dark chapter with zero forced modern sensibilities.
Plot
In 1980s Oslo, teenager Øystein 'Euronymous' Aarseth forms the black metal band Mayhem with friends, aiming to create 'true Norwegian black metal' through shocking publicity stunts like church burnings. The film follows Euronymous's rivalry with fan-turned-musician Varg Vikernes (later of Burzum), as their competition blurs lines between performance and reality, leading to escalating violence, including the murder of Euronymous. Adapted from the 1998 book, it dramatizes the early 1990s scene's descent into chaos based on actual events.