Satan Rides the Media

Torstein Gruden:
Satan Rides the Media (Norway 1998)
52 min. – Beta – Norwegian. English subtitles.
Age limit 15+

Satan Rides the Media is a 1998 Norwegian documentary by Torstein Grude. The film covers the controversy that surrounded black metal musician Varg Vikernes in the early 1990s, who not only has been tied to a series of church arsons in Norway, but received widespread media attention for the admitted murder of Mayhem band member Øystein Aarseth.

As the title suggests, the film deals with Satan, or that is satanism, in the media which was a huge deal at the time, due to that a bunch of churches were burnt to the ground in Norway. It tells about the satanic environment in Norway so to speak, dealing with black metal, and some of the people involved in the scene. But its main focus is on Varg Vikernes aka. Count Grishnack of the band Burzum, who didn't just burn down several churches, but who also, murdered Øystein Aarseth of the black metal band Mayhem. Basically this documentary is about Vikernes, what he did: his trial, how it all started, and what happened to the black metal scene after that Vikernes was convicted to serve 21 years in prison.

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Torstein Grude

Torstein Grude, born in 1971, graduated in directing at the International Film School in London in 1997. Grude has made a number of documentary, music videos, advertising and industrial films. His job categories include directing, producing, cinematography, screenwriting and editing.

Filmography:
Heaven Inside Us (2004)
Tin Soldiers (2004)
Instant Happiness (2001)
Satan Rides The media (1998)