Watch the most adorable film ever about a homicidal, racist, church-burning black metal legend
In 1993, Varg Vikernes of the legendary Norwegian black-metal band Burzum murdered his Mayhem bandmate, Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth. For that crime—not to mention the arson of several Christian churches—Vikernes was sentenced to 21 years in prison. During his incarceration, he became an outspoken neo-Nazi. Cute story, right?
Well, if Dunkelheit: The Tale Of Varg Vikernes is to be believed, it kind of is. Written and directed by a U.S. high school student in 2009, just prior to Vikernes’ parole, the 23-minute film was recently rediscovered by MetalSucks.com, whose Axl Rosenberg rightly worries about the filmmakers’ gushing sympathy (and apparent apology) for Vikernes. Painting the man’s crime as an act of preemptive self-defense, which has long been Vikernes’ justification, Dunkelheit crosses the line between hero worship and sheer creepiness.
It’s also downright fucking adorable. High-school kids running around in fake facial hair, rocking out in front of burning churches, speaking in bad Norwegian accents, and mouthing lines like, “My ancestors were Viking berserkers who slew many enemies without fear, and I’m forced to live in this overprotective society that wants us not to be strong”… What’s not to love? That is, besides that niggling little Nazi thing.