Hagen Review: A Brooding Nibelungen Retelling with Real Bite

This Hagen review begins with a simple question: what happens when a famous German saga is told from the side of its most brooding figure? Directors Cyrill Boss and Philipp Stennert, who also wrote the script, put Hagen von Tronje at the centre of the Nibelungen legend and strip it down to a grim drama with fantasy edges. The result is moody and handsome, though not always gripping.

Hagen Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Hagen plot opens at the Burgundian court, where Hagen serves as master-at-arms. He is the man who holds a troubled kingdom together, and he keeps a dark secret about his past. King Gunter relies on him, but the court is fragile.

Then Siegfried arrives. The dragon slayer is unpredictable and charismatic, and his presence threatens everything Hagen has worked to protect. Gunter wants Siegfried's help to win the fierce Valkyrie Brunhild, and that bargain sets the story in motion.

The film's tagline calls it "the greatest saga of all times." That is a big promise, but the setup is solid. It frames the legend as a tragic choice between duty to a king and loyalty to oneself.

What Works in Hagen

The best idea here is the shift in viewpoint. Instead of treating Hagen as a cold schemer on the sidelines, the film makes him the conflicted heart of the story. That gives a very old tale a fresh angle.

• A clear central dilemma: loyalty to the crown against personal identity drives every scene.

• Grounded tone: this is a gritty drama first and a fantasy second, which suits the medieval setting.

• Strong sense of place: the Burgundian court feels lived-in, damp and dangerous.

The action is a notable part of the package. If you enjoy the genre, our Action movie reviews cover plenty more in the same vein. Here the fights are physical and weighty rather than flashy, which fits Hagen's soldier-first character.

Hagen Cast and Performances

The Hagen cast is led by Gijs Naber as Hagen von Tronje. Naber plays him as a watchful, weary man, and he carries the film with a lot of quiet intensity. You can feel the secret weighing on him even when he says little.

Jannis Niewöhner plays Siegfried as a restless, volatile force, and he gives the film its spark of danger. Lilja van der Zwaag is Kriemhild, Dominic Marcus Singer plays King Gunter, Rosalinde Mynster takes on Brunhild, and Jördis Triebel appears as Ute.

The supporting players are solid, though some are given less to do than the story promises. Mynster's Brunhild in particular suggests a more fascinating film waiting in the margins.

Where Hagen Stumbles

At 135 minutes, the film can feel heavy. The pace sags in the middle, and the political scheming at court is not always as gripping as the tension between Hagen and Siegfried.

The mix of myth and realism also leaves it in an awkward place. Fans of full-blown fantasy may want more spectacle, while history buffs may find the saga's legendary elements hard to square with the dour tone. Audience reaction reflects that split: viewers on TMDB give it a middling 6.2 out of 10.

Some characters feel more like symbols than people. When the film leans on grand statements about fate and honour, it loses a little of the human drama that works so well elsewhere.

Is Hagen Worth Watching?

Yes, if you like serious, character-driven epics, Hagen is worth watching, but temper your expectations. It is a well-made, thoughtful drama with a strong lead rather than a blockbuster fantasy.

The film's biggest asset is Naber's performance and its fresh view of a familiar legend. Its biggest weakness is pacing. If you can settle into its slow, sombre rhythm, there is a lot to chew on.

It was released on 17 October 2024 in Germany, in German. If you enjoy period storytelling, you might also like our Drama movie reviews, or for more sword-and-saga adventure, browse our Adventure movie reviews. For background on the legend itself, the film's IMDb page lists the full credits.

Who Will Enjoy Hagen

• Viewers who love medieval sagas and myth retold as grounded drama.

• Fans of German-language cinema and character-led epics.

• Anyone curious about the Nibelungen legend from the perspective of its most conflicted figure.