Directed by Robert Eggers, The Northman follows young prince Amleth (Oscar Novak) who is on the verge of becoming a man when his father (Ethan Hawke) is brutally murdered by his uncle (Claes Bang), who also kidnaps the boy’s mother (Nicole Kidman). Two decades later, Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) is now a Viking who raids Slavic villages. He soon meets a seeress (Björk) who reminds him of his vow — save his mother, kill his uncle, avenge his father.
Robert Eggers is perhaps one of the most incredible rising directors in recent years, having surprised the world with not one but two remarkable films (The Witch and The Lighthouse). His unique takes on the horror and psychological genres were absolutely fascinating to me as he managed to craft such masterful films that stand out in a time where major franchises dominate the cinema landscape. Anything he was going to make next I was going to see in a heartbeat and The Northman was no exception.
Once I heard about this film in its earliest development I knew I was going to be watching it day one when it came out. And after watching it all I can say is this: Robert Eggers has done it again!
The Northman is a beautiful but vicious Viking revenge saga that is masterful in every single way. While this film is a departure from the previous genres he has worked with his signature style is still prevalent and he shows that he is pretty much capable of making anything amazing when allowed to have his own vision.
Eggers brought together a unique ensemble cast that fully commits to their various roles in this story no matter how long or short they are. The supporting characters felt just as memorable and integral to the film as the main characters, thanks mostly to the performances from strong veterans like Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, and Nicole Kidman.
But the one actor who truly impressed me the most in this film was Alexander Skarsgård as our lead. Skarsgård physically and mentally embodies himself as a brutal beast within a man’s body, from the way he fights to the way he interacts with others. He’s an extremely compelling warrior who is driven on his journey for vengeance and bound by honor, and we get to experience that with him every step of the way even in spiritual form.
From the way he talks to the way he moves like an animal on the prowl, this was Alexander Skarsgård’s massive breakout role that deserves to be praised. He also shares great chemistry and a beautiful on-screen relationship with Anya Taylor Joy’s Olga, a Slavic sorceress he meets on his journey. It’s through her we get to see the more human side of him, and their relationship is handled so beautifully thanks to the writing and especially Anya’s performance. They were a power couple that I didn’t expect and I enjoyed all of their interactions on screen.
Claes Bang as Fjölnir the Brotherless served as the perfect villain for this kind of story and it was really satisfying to see how our lead takes revenge on him for the actions he committed. But you do also manage to find some surprising sympathy for his character when you get to see things from his perspective and certain secrets are revealed. Everyone played their parts perfectly and not a single person felt out of place in this bloody Viking tale.
When it comes to the narrative this is definitely the most simple and easy to follow stories that Eggers has given to us so far as it is a legend of revenge that inspired other revenge stories including Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In fact, this film could be described as a Viking version of Hamlet, but Robert Eggers was able to take a simple story of revenge and make it feel like a fresh grand epic complete with brutal Viking violence and metaphysical elements.
Even when clocking in at 137 minutes the film felt like a saga brought to the big screen, including chapters to break the acts up and give the film a good pace. Nothing felt rushed nor felt too long. It was perfectly balanced and we were able to get enough time with the characters to feel invested in them, especially when the bloodshed starts happening.
While the action isn’t frequent compared to something you’d expect in other Viking films/shows it is still incredible as we are given action set pieces that Eggers directs masterfully with such intensity, making us feel like we are experiencing the bloody carnage in person. Nothing felt held back in the slightest as Eggers delivers the darkest side of human history in the era of the Vikings, delivering vicious thrills in a strangely beautiful manner. The Viking raid and the fight at the volcano are by far the most stand-out action scenes this film has.
The visuals in this film are gorgeous, with cinematography that absorbs you into Iceland’s beautiful landscapes and a mix of practical/digital effects that give the film a haunting theme that matches some of Egger’s earlier work, including the usage of elements of Norse Mythology. We get a lot of visual storytelling without the need for any dialogue that propels this film along and it is just so perfect. There’s just no other way to describe it other than that, it’s perfect.
The music from composers Robin Carolan and Sebastian Gainsborough is both eerie and majestic, making this already Norse film feel even more Norse. The sound design and instruments used for the score are crafted in such a way that it heightens every scene in the film, making it feel even more like an epic retelling of a simple story.
The Northman was one of my most anticipated films of this year, one I’ve been eagerly waiting for since Robert Eggers’s last installment in 2019. The wait was truly worth it and I encourage everyone to watch this film and support Robert Eggers as a filmmaker because he truly deserves it, and I want to continue to see him pursue his passion no matter what kind of film he takes on next. I’m going to give The Northman an A = 100.
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