PRAISE FOR STELLAN:

"The tremendous young ensemble cast expertly defines their characters in stark opposition to the cool precision of Skarsgård and slimy wretch Joner. Their performances are equaled by John Andreas Anderson’s exemplary cinematography"   ...Seattle Int'l Film Festival critic

"As the stone-faced and venal governor, Skarsgård is excellent. So is Helstad as Erling, the film's strong, if tragic hero."  ...Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

"Stellan Skarsgård has never participated in a Norwegian film without raising the number of notches. Here he plays an outwardly strong character who is weak, cowardly and pathetic - but with a thin, hard steel wire of morality and righteousness deep inside him. It is a complex and interesting character, and the tour of a refined talent that we do not have anything like in the whole Nordic region."  ...Thor Willy Bakke, Cinerama, no

"Skarsgård's performance is a godsend, turning the superintendent into a man who genuinely thinks that he cares about his inmates' well-being, but is so entrenched in his job and his power that he makes not even the smallest attempt to change things for the better."   ...Chicago Int'l Film Festival critic

"Yet-another strong performance from the great Stellan Skarsgård and some very good work from a young cast of unknowns."   ...Hollywood Chicago

"Skarsgård is brilliant as always."   ...Fantasia Int'l Film Festival critic

"Hoist affords the always-excellent Skarsgård necessary leeway to find complexity in his character."   ...Glenn Heath, Jr., Slant Magazine

"Stellan Skarsgård is quite effective as Bestyreren, a man who mouths platitudes about how the school will help restore its boys to full and productive lives. He has an unreasonable optimism, given the reality of the school experience, which places emphasis on forced manual labor and punishment. Skarsgård evokes a studied detachment; he seems distracted from the reality at hand by his vague optimism."   ...Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Kristoffer Joner makes a frighteningly believable predator while Skarsgård creates a really perfect alloy of arrogance and cowardice."      ...Jay Seaver, efilmcritic.com

"Stellan Skarsgård, as the governor, is as watchable as ever, conveying concern and guilt despite his authoritative stance, while Kristoffer Joner is outstanding in a crucial role as the boys' biggest enemy; his sallow features and sunken eyes are perfect for the portrayal of the predatory Brathen, a sullen bully who has been rejected by adult society."    ...David Graham, Eye for Film

"Mr. Skarsgård gives Bestyreren just the right attitude of stubborn, narrowed-eyed rectitude."   ...Stephen Holden, NY Times

"The solid, at times brilliant acting is one of the keys in this respect, and particularly Swedish import Stellan Skarsgård and the young talent Trond Nilssen go deep into their respective characters' layered psyche. Comradery, courage and youthful dreaming is poignantly portrayed as the tortured kids try to find a way out of their secluded prison and back into the real world."   ...Arnadal.no

"Skarsgård and Joner shine, one as a decent man hemmed in by fear and misguided notions of care, and the other as a snake hiding in the midst of the grim, demanding atmosphere of the camp."   ...Moviemobsters.com

"Skarsgård is riveting throughout as a man whose high morality is steeped in hypocrisy and whose mask of civility easily slips, when challenged, to reveal the monster beneath. His ruin and grim-faced departure provide one of the film’s few moments of real elation."   ....Bruce DeMara, Toronto Star