Robert Eggers, as a filmmaker, is known for his period detail in addition to horror.
Coming off of his breakout hits, The Witch and The Lighthouse, Eggers built a reputation on considering historical accuracy with his production design. His costumes, sets, and even camera equipment are all chosen with historical detail in mind. Eggers’ historical accuracy makes his films so engaging; you feel like you’re truly entering the period in these films, rather than just seeing actors in costumes. The Northman is Eggers’ largest film to date, and it’s his first time stepping away from horror. While Viking lore has been more successful in television or animation than film (although there are a few good ones), The Northman sets the standard of a live-action Viking film; it’s positively stellar.
The Northman follows Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), son of King Aurvandill War-Raven (Ethan Hawke) and Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman). After Amleth witnesses his uncle, Fjölnir (Claes Bang), killing Aurvandill and kidnapping Gudrún, he flees his home, training his body and mind to seek revenge against his uncle. The story traditionally follows the monomyth hero’s journey, which makes sense considering Eggers’ dedication to historical detail. While some may find this dedication making the film predictable, the characters and action beats were so well executed that it didn’t bother me. The film felt like a legend from the 8th or 9th century, in how the story’s told and its themes. Eggers’ use of rituals and ceremonies in The Northman makes the period feel alive and layered while also informing the Amleth’s development. Tying the rituals into Amleth’s character arc prevents them from feeling out of place and disrupting the pacing.
The action is visceral and bold, with fantastic action set pieces that hit fast and hard. There wasn’t as much gore as I was hoping there’d be, but it’s there, and it’s brutal. I loved how creative Eggers got with the fight choreography and the gore, at times injecting Viking-like dark humor. The action
The performances are all great, with Alexander Skarsgård giving an astoundingly physical performance as Amleth. His physicality in the film is bestial, as he contorts his body to emphasize how depraved Amleth is becoming, thirsting for revenge. Anya Taylor-Joy was also great as Olga, Amleth’s sorceress partner, projecting an air of cunning and savvy with each line. Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke, and Björk all make an impact with their bit parts, each memorable and mystifying, thanks to their unique performances. While still delivering a good performance and having fun with the role, Nicole Kidman still at times felt out of place with her casting. She stood out as a formal outlier among the grittier performances. Kidman could’ve used a more intricate and unique costume design to feel more a part of her world. She still delivered a fine performance, and her character is unique and subversive within the traditional narrative.
The Northman is a real deal Viking epic in its purest form. The world feels rich with culture while still having the fun of an epic action movie. I’m excited Eggers gets to have this grand stage to show off his skill, and I hope audiences flock to The Northman and see what he offers.
The Northman will be in theaters on April 22nd
