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Riders of Justice
By Stefan Pape,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Superb Danish revenge comedy has strong language, violence.

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Riders of Justice
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Violent and introspective
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Terrible! Would give 0 stars.
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What's the Story?
RIDERS OF JUSTICE tells the story of soldier Markus (Mads Mikkelsen), who returns home to his daughter, Mathilde (Andrea Heick Gadeberg), after a train accident kills her mother. But when fellow passenger and surviver Otto (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) tells Markus he doesn't believe the incident was an accident, they set off to uncover the truth -- and seek revenge.
Is It Any Good?
With its brilliant plot, this Danish comedy thriller balances genres in a seamless fashion, while starring a remarkable central performance by Mikkelsen. Riders of Justice is, at its core, a tale of revenge. It's violent and action-heavy, and yet it has such a distinctive comedic streak that it's impossible to not find yourself laughing. Its tone is true of the region it hails from, as this film is emblematic of Danish cinema, managing to be so quirky and unconventional, but without any sense of being unnatural.
Mikkelsen excels, but this is a film that thrives in the ensemble. Lie Kaas turns in a moving display, while Nicolas Bro and Lars Brygmann bring the comedy, in emphatic fashion. Fans of Scandi-cinema will be in for yet another treat, though this really is an experience designed for anybody to enjoy. In other words, this really is a movie not to be missed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the extreme violence in Riders of Justice. What were the motivations for it? Were there consequences? Did you feel different about the violence because the victims were bad people? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
The movie features some incredibly strong language, including hateful terminology. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie? How did you feel hearing some of these terms?
How did the movie portray the notion of grief? Have you ever experienced the loss of a loved one? How did you cope? How did the film highlight the benefits of talking and opening up?
Would you consider Markus a role model? What, if any, character strengths did he display?
If Danish is not a language you speak, how did you find the subtitles? Were they distracting or did you get used to them quickly? What other international movies have you seen, and how did this one compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 14, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: May 21, 2021
- Cast: Mads Mikkelsen , Nikolaj Lie Kaas , Andrea Heick Gadeberg
- Director: Anders Thomas Jensen
- Studio: Magnet Releasing
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 116 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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