Rating of
3.5/4
May the Norse Be With You
Chris Kavan - wrote on 06/12/22
If this is what happens when you give Robert Eggers more money then give this man ALL the money (and let him run wild). Eggers had previously given us The Witch and The Lighthouse - both visually-stunning and character-driven films and The Northman is the same on a much bigger scale.
The story is based on the Scandinavian legend Amleth which in turn was partly the inspiration behind William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The journey of Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) begins with a young boy (Oscar Novak) witnessing the death of his father, King Aurvandil War-Raven (Ethan Hawke) at the hands of his bastard brother Fjölnir The Brotherless (Claes Bang). As this happens shortly after a drug-fueled coming-of-age ceremony presided over by Heimir The Fool (Willem Dafoe) - it also inspires a life-long journey to avenge his father and rescue his kidnapped mother, Gudrún (Nicole Kidman).'
After a desperate escape, Amleth grows into a man and finds himself part of a Berzerker raiding party and in the Land of Rus. After a bloody battle he is witness to a prophecy from a seeress (Björk) and this puts into motion a new direction for his life. When he discovers his bastard uncles is still very much alive, he disguises himself among the slaves, including the flaxon-haired witch woman Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy) and takes a long journey to Iceland. There he plots to destroy all his Uncle has left - not that there is much, with two sons, Thórir The Proud (Gustav Lindh) and young Gunnar (Elliott Rose) in his sights. But a revelation throws everything he thinks he knows into disarray and he must decide what is more important - his kin or his revenge.
Eggers has crafted a Viking epic that may well be the most historically-accurate period piece ever put on film. The costumes, sets, locations, rites - the details are meticulous and he didn't hesitate to consult with people who know the sources. The film looks brutally honest - the mud, the blood, the animalistic nature - is shown in all its natural glory. From guttural howls and growls to decapitations and lost limbs - this is not a movie for the faint of heart, either. But for those who stay, the stunning vistas and amazing characters drive home the beauty behind the brutality.
Casting-wise, Eggers brings back some old friend - Taylor-Joy shines as the slave turned co-conspirator and eventually lover to Amleth. She has great chemistry with Skarsgård, who is as savage as he is noble in his quest for vengeance. Kidman is also at the top of her game and Bang is likewise a wise choice. Even though their parts are short, Bjork, Dafoe, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Ian Whyte and Olwen Fouéré make the very most of their times on screen.
Even with a bigger budget, much like The Witch and The Lighthouse, The Northman may not be a wide audience crowd pleaser. Even with the action, it does move slow and some of the scenes are quite "out there" as it were. Still, this is an epic in every sense of the word and one more than worth checking out.
