--- title: "Headhunters: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/headhunters/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/headhunters" critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Headhunters (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 72 from 17 reviews: 13 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Headhunters a brisk, darkly funny thriller whose escalating dangers and reversals largely justify its excesses. Praise centres on Morten Tyldum’s lively direction, the momentum of the chase and Aksel Hennie’s performance as a deeply flawed man under increasingly humiliating pressure. Hennie gives the reviews a particularly firm point of agreement: his charm, physical agility and visible desperation help keep the protagonist watchable as the plotting becomes more outlandish. Reservations cluster around plausibility and the handling of the final stretch, with complaints about plot holes, clumsy exposition and overly neat resolutions. Some also find familiar formulas beneath the surprises. The spread is wide, though strongly weighted towards approval rather than evenly divided. Slant Magazine supplies the sharpest dissent, finding the film mean-spirited and empty, and its protagonist too thinly drawn for his suffering to be entertaining. ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2012. French praises the adaptation as an intelligent, cool and brutal Scandinavian thriller. He singles out its cleverly prepared surprises and relentless, inventive chase for particular approval. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/apr/08/headhunters-jo-nesbo-film-review) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Rating B+. 7 August 2011. Festival review. Kohn finds the film an exhilarating, comic chase that eventually falls back into familiar formulas. He praises Morten Tyldum’s lively action direction and Aksel Hennie’s nimble, Keaton-like performance. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/locarno-review-despite-fix-to-formula-comic-misadventure-headhunters-recalls-the-fugitive-52919/) ## The AV Club — Sam Adams Rating B+. 26 April 2012. Adams finds it a consistently surprising thriller that maintains coherence. He praises Aksel Hennie’s transformation into a scarred, humiliated underdog pursued by an implacable adversary. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/headhunters-1798172531) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 4/5. 3 April 2012. Huddleston gives the film a strongly positive four-star verdict. The page teaser singles out its relentless succession of increasingly extreme dangers and reversals. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/headhunters) ## Total Film — Matt Glasby Rating 4/5. 26 March 2012. Glasby gives the film a strong review, praising its fast-moving action and tonal daring. He especially singles out Aksel Hennie’s charming performance as the deeply flawed protagonist. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/headhunters-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 27 April 2012. Turan praises the film as a thrilling, over-the-top ride, despite its implausibilities. He singles out the slick direction and tension-building as strengths. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-apr-27-la-et-headhunters-20120427-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 25 April 2012. Ebert finds the film an entertaining, sharply plotted thriller. He singles out its dark humor and escalating twists. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/headhunters-2012) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2006. Newman finds the film an offbeat, gripping thriller, though more fascinating than exciting. He praises its stylish direction and the charismatic lead performances, alongside its darkly comic, ruthless twists. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/headhunters-review/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 6 May 2012. Lane finds the film admirably swift but dangerously silly in what it asks viewers to accept. He praises Aksel Hennie’s nuanced, mortified portrayal of Roger Brown as the film’s central strength. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/05/14/double-lives-2) ## Variety — Boyd van Hoeij Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2011. Festival review. The critic finds the Norwegian thriller slick and engaging despite its by-the-numbers, predictable middle. He praises Aksel Hennie’s performance for making the protagonist’s increasingly desperate plight compelling. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/headhunters-1117945778/) ## Screen Daily — Dan Fainaru Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2011. The accessible page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is hidden behind the paywall. The available text does not reveal what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/headhunters/5030570.article) ## Slant Magazine — Calum Marsh Rating 1/4. 24 April 2012. The critic dismisses the film as mean-spirited and insubstantial, with no meaningful ideas beneath its nastiness. He particularly faults its protagonist for being an unsympathetic cipher whose suffering offers little enjoyment. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/headhunters/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 4/5. 14 March 2012. The critic praises Headhunters as an engrossing, funny, fast-paced thriller, despite a conclusion that feels a little too neat. He singles out Roger as a wonderfully flawed and watchable protagonist whose misadventures drive the film’s humor and suspense. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/headhunters-review/) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Rating 4/5. 4 April 2012. The critic finds the thriller gripping, surprising, and great fun despite a late stretch of clumsy exposition. Aksel Hennie’s performance is singled out for its fit with the film’s serious yet playful tone. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a374412/headhunters-review-aksel-hennie-shines-in-scat-and-mouse-thriller/) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Rating 8.5 out of 10. 27 September 2011. Festival review. The critic recommends the film as a hugely entertaining, twisty heist thriller despite some plot holes. They single out its laughs, action, charming performances and unexpected turns for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/517743/minireviews-exciting-heist-thriller-headhunters-blind-jiujitsu-mystery-aardvark-fantastic-fest-2011/) ## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2011. Bitel finds the film an entertaining, mainstream thriller with a sharp parable beneath its twists. He especially praises the dark comedy that punctures the anti-hero’s obsession with appearances and wealth. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/headhunters-film-review-by-anton-bitel) ## HeyUGuys — Craig Skinner Rating 3.5/5. 17 October 2011. Festival review. The critic finds the film a thoroughly enjoyable, slick thriller with enthralling plotting and perfect pacing. They praise Aksel Hennie’s convincing performance as Roger’s life and status unravel. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/lff-2011-headhunters-hodejegerne-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/headhunters.md