THE NORTHMAN (2022)
Updated: Dec 10, 2022
A Raw and Uncompromising Viking Revenge Saga
Grade: A
The Northman is an intense and violent movie that takes no prisoners. It is unflinching in its depiction of Viking savagery, rich in detail for the time period depicted, and almost completely unromantic in its story. There is very little nobility in the characters, and the destructive effects of revenge are not shied away from. This isn't a film for people who want to have a good time, but it will leave a serious impact.
Based on Scandinavian legend, The Northman follows Prince Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), who is forced to flee his island kingdom in the North Atlantic after his uncle, Fjolnir (Claes Bang) murders his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) and steals his throne. In another land, he grows into a powerful warrior and aids in the conquest of many villages before deciding to make good on his vow to avenge his father. He learns that Fjolnir and Amleth's mother, Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman), who was forced to marry Fjolnir after Aurvandill's death, were stripped of their kingdom and fled to Iceland, where they rule a small tribe on the plains. Amleth sneaks aboard a slave ship to Iceland and meets a girl named Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), with whom he later falls in love.
The film is directed by Robert Eggers, who terrified audiences in 2015 with his debut The Witch, and crafted a psychological thriller in 2019 with The Lighthouse. He took great pains in those movies to depict the time period as accurately as possible, and now he has gone even bigger for his first epic movie. With The Northman, he and his crew have succeeded in bringing ancient Viking cultures to life for modern audiences to see, with their recreations of the dwellings and customs of the time. Several interesting rituals are displayed, including a drug-fueled rite of passage young Amleth takes with his father, bear warriors screaming and roaring around a fire before going into battle, and a boat funeral for a slain chief's son.
All these moments and more are set against breathtaking scenery, thanks to cinematographer Jarin Blaschke. His camera highlights a snow-covered coastal town, the green plains and rivers of Iceland, and the heart of a volcano for the movie's intense climactic fight. Even when the characters aren't conscious, the movie is filled with impressive imagery. During the hallucinatory rite of passage, Aurvandill's heart and veins become a tree with kings hanging from the branches, and the movie's final moments see a character being taken by a Valkyrie across the stars to the Gates of Valhalla. Because of this, there is always something beautiful to see on-screen.
The director's dedication to accuracy and realism doesn't just extend to the time period, however. Although essentially a fantasy, with its inclusion of future-seeing mystics, the film does not lend itself to illusions of classic heroism. Amleth may be a hero in the technical sense, but early scenes of him as a warrior show him leading a horde of barbarians in bear skins in the raid of a village. They kill many people, inflicting on several children the same fate that Amleth himself suffered when he was young. Even the romantic notions Amleth set for himself in his quest for revenge are disrupted when someone he thought was a loved one turns out to be an enemy, and his father was not the noble king he thought he was. But he continues down his destructive, vengeful path, and the movie does not pull punches in its displays of violence as heads are lopped off and swords are shoved through faces. No one is safe. This all lends a sort of Shakespearean feel to the story (and for good reason, since the original Scandinavian legend directly inspired the Bard's "Hamlet).
The movie isn't completely mean-spirited, however. It does allow itself to have some quiet, peaceful moments, and there is some good in the characters, especially Olga. Taylor-Joy depicts her as a calm yet determined counterpart to Skarsgård's loud and angry Amleth. While she isn't afraid to help him wreak his revenge, deep down she is a wise and loving heroine who genuinely cares for him. Her presence, along with a comforting final monologue, keep the movie from being nihilistic.
The Northman is not for the squeamish. The violence is bloody, the tone is dark, and the realistic themes may put off casual viewers. But it is extremely well-made. The cast puts on great performances, the visuals are astounding, and the attention to detail is impressive. For those who want to see an intense story of revenge set against a beautiful backdrop, The Northman will not disappoint
Director: Robert Eggers
Screenplay: Sjon, Robert Eggers
Producers: Mark Huffam, Lars Knudsen, Robert Eggers, Alexander Skarsgård, Arnon Milchan
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård (Amleth), Nicole Kidman (Queen Gudrun), Claes Bang (Fjolnir), Anya Taylor-Joy (Olga), Ethan Hawke (King Aurvandill), Willem Dafoe (Heimir), Elliot Rose (Gunnar), Gustav Lindh (Thorir), Eldar Skar (Finnr), Phill Martin (Hallgrimr Half Troll), Ingvar Eggert Sigurosson (He-Witch), Bjork (Seeress)
Rated: R (for strong bloody violence, some sexual content and nudity)
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