Ulvenatten (2008)

	Directed by: Kjell Sundvall	COUNTRY Norway GENRE Crime/Action/Drama INTERNATIONAL TITLE Night of the Wolf RUNNING TIME 90 minutes
	Produced by: Kaare Storemyr Aage Aaberge
	Written by (based on his own novel): Tom Egeland

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Kristin Bye	Anneke von der Lippe
Ramzan Jevlojev	Dejan Cukic	½
Bjørnar Lehmann	Jørgen Langhelle	½
Thomas Fjell	Christian Skolmen	½
Aksel Scheldrup	Ingar Helge Gimle	½
Aslan	Ramadan Huseini	½
Nyhetsredaktør	Henrik Mestad
Vidar Bø	Stig Henrik Hoff
Statsminister	Kim Haugen
Statssekretær	Erik Hivju

Review

This tight, suspenseful thriller is another example of how the Norwegian film industry currently profits from the strong crime fiction tradition that has developed in the country. Tom Egeland adapts his own novel, and Kjell Sundvall's direction is concise, unbiased and effective, as he combines traditional omniscient narration with fast-paced newscast-type coverage. Technically, Ulvenatten draws inspiration from classics such as The China Syndrome, while in its political themes, the film is in the tradition of Orions belte, one of the best Norwegian action films of all time.

One of the most delightful aspects of Ulvenatten is the subtlety in the thematic conflict. The terrorists seem one-dimensional and unnuanced at first, but we get the feeling that there is more to them than what meets the eye. Dejan Cucic's performance is good in this respect; he's brutish but enigmatic. If there is a weakness in the film's early part, it is that Sundvall isn't quite able to keep the pace up once the premise inside the television studio has been set. The narrative lags a little, and the indistinct presences of Christian Skolmen and Anneke von der Lippe create some unengaging periods. Still, the well-presented tactics create a nerve that is elevated into great suspense in the film's final act. The portrayal of the Norwegian police as indecisive but considerate is spot on – and perhaps even somewhat refreshing for viewers who are used to Charles Bronson/Clint Eastwood-type cop figures.