K2: SIREN OF THE HIMALAYAS
“It’s a trek as thrilling as any Hollywood summer blockbuster, with real-life plot twists of death, unexpected heroism, and surprise endings… For nature geeks and climbing enthusiasts, this is a must-see. But even viewers not naturally drawn to the subject matter may well be pulled under the film’s sway, as it evokes something of what movie fans must have felt decades ago watching newsreels of great explorers take on the great unknowns of nature.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Ernest Hardy / Village Voice
“A Risky, Chilly Climb to the Top. ‘K2′ shows climbers with a lofty goal in the Himalayas. The documentary’s biggest highlight is its climbing footage, much of it shot by Mr. Ohlson; the film gets in close, with snow on the lens, and captures the sound of piercing winds at high altitude.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Ben Kenigsberg / The New York Times
“K2: Siren of the Himalayas captures courage, hardship and at times defeat, but above all Ohlson and his crew document the mountain itself, in all its staggering majesty. Some of the shots here are astonishing, in particular a pan from a close-up of Gerlinde beneath the K2 summit to the valley floor thousands of feet below. For some, this documentary could be the best way to experience just how difficult and rewarding mountaineering can be.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Daniel Eagan / Film Journal International
“Beautiful mountaineering film gets big boost from historical material… Judging from the wealth of splendid views the camera captures, even a climber who never got past the first or second stage would have an experience justifying De Filippi’s rhapsodies.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
John DeFore / The Hollywood Reporter
“A stunning collection of scenic vistas and a sobering gut-check on the reality of climbing K2.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Jeff Jackson / Rock and Ice Magazine
“Why anyone would expend such great effort, at such great risk… an answer may lie in the sheer devastating beauty of the visuals in this film. The climbers viewed amazing sights, and they brought back something worthwhile — something worth seeing on as big a screen as possible.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Michael Potemra / National Review
“3 1/4 out of 4. Ohlson cuts between thrilling still photos and film footage from the 1909 trip and the 2009 attempt, delving into the history of the spectacularly beautiful area and emphasizing how difficult it is to reach K2’s summit… The film reveals the depth of the human spirit and the fierce power of nature…”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
This Week in New York
“Some of the most gorgeous modern mountain cinematography I’ve ever seen. Even if you’re not into climbing or hiking, expect to be transported by the incredible views of the Karakoram Range.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Elly Leitz / Yakima Magazine
“Throughout the film, the 2009 journey to K2 is paralleled step by step through photographs and voiceovers of journal entries from the 1909 team. It is eerie to see how closely the observations made one hundred years apart match up.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Simon Fox / The Seattle Globalist
“The cinematography knocks you on your heels, amidst stunning giants above sweeping glaciers… Extremes in climbing share a certain kind of calling, but this song of K2 has a pull all its own.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Chuck Jaffee / The Union
“To a man or woman, these alpinists speak of the beauty and truth of the slopes, of the quality of being fully alive way up there on them, of the physical demands, the addiction to climbing, and of the risks… Recent The Summit fused real footage with great amounts of re-creation to image the deadly August 2008 day on this mountain… K2:SH is the better, crisper picture.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Donald Levit / ReelTalk Reviews / Rotten Tomatoes
“See this magnificent film that not only manages to convey the seductive and fatal beauty of the queen of the Karakoram but also expresses the spiritual bond that grows between men and women who share this addictive environment… Do not miss it!”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
It’s Just Movies / Rotten Tomatoes
“4.75 out of 5 Pitons. This is a REAL movie about REAL climbing… the most accurate and down-to-earth depiction of big mountain climbing out there.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Emilie Cortes / Sierra Journal
“While there are stunning vistas of sunrises, sunsets, and glaciated mountain ranges, the majority of the film centers on the close-knit climbing community and their measured patience and startlingly humility in the face of their accomplishments.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Rachel Redfern / Btch Flicks
“An illuminating look at the 2009 expedition to scale the world’s most dangerous mountain, Dave Ohlson has made a tense, exciting document of a story that’s both tragic and triumphant.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Kevin Filipski / Static Media
“Truly hair-raising and edge-of-your-seat thrilling…”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Video Tapeworm
“The photography is magnificent, as is the danger inherent for both the climbers and the photographers.”
Review of K2: Siren of the Himalayas
Buffalo Library
Filmmaker Dave Ohlson Talks About K2 Film | The Outside Blog
K2: Siren of the Himalayas | The Adventure Blog
2012 Banff Mountain Film Festival to Screen World’s Best | Banff Centre