The Northman is a 2022 epic action-packed revenge thriller from visionary director Robert Eggers, co-written by Eggers and Sjón. It is Eggers 3rd film after he directed and co-wrote The Witch (2015), and The Lighthouse (2019). The film is said to be very loosely based on the story of Amleth, which was inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Prince Amleth is on the verge of becoming a man when his father is brutally murdered by his uncle, who kidnaps the boy's mother. Two decades later, Amleth is now a Viking who's on a mission to save his mother, kill his uncle and avenge his father.

The all-star cast includes Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe.

The Northman made it’s debut in theaters on April 22nd, courtesy of Focus Features.

THE GOOD

I can’t even begin to explain how excited I was to see this movie after the first trailer released, and seeing it a few times in theaters only compounded that excitement. Robert Eggers is a man that values the finer elements of filmmaking, and if you take the time out to watch a film of his, you know you are in for for a real treat when it comes to storytelling and technical mastery. I became a huge fan of his after seeing The Witch, and The Northman served as a reminder of why. I knew I had to see this movie in theaters, and I knew I had to see it on the biggest screen possible. So, was I in for a treat as I hoped or did I leave the theater disappointed? Keep reading to find out!

It would be impossible begin a review for The Northman without talking about the man himself, writer/director Robert Eggers. Eggers, who looks like he could have starred in the film with his full beard, is originally from Lee, New Hampshire. The 38-year-old began his career as a costume and production designer, and quickly became known for his obsessive attention to detail. His debut film, the horror thriller The Witch (2015) also starring Taylor-Joy and set in 1630’s New England, which I (sort of) reviewed way back in 2016 (full review here), really set the tone for his filmmaking career. Next he did another horror film set in the 1890’s called The Lighthouse (2019), which he co-wrote with his brother Max. If you are paying attention you’ve noticed the trend of films that are set way back in the day, and that is beginning to become his calling card of sorts. Eggers himself has said he refuses to do a film set in present-day, and to be honest, I don’t blame him. First of all, present-day is scary enough as it is, and second of all filmmaking is supposed to be a form of escapism, and we are allowed a unique form of that when we are transported to a time so long before us.

Robert Eggers has done it yet again! As advertised, The Northman is an epic fantasy adventure spread across vast countryside’s, complete with jaw-dropping visuals, exceptional acting, incredibly immersive storytelling, and the perfect payoff in the final act. The story is told in chapters, and to say that it included everything you could possibly want in a Viking-era film would be a huge understatement. I need to see it again as soon as possible just to soak it all in because quite a lot happens as I am sure you can imagine. The costume and production design will have you in absolute awe, which is no surprise considering Eggers’ background.

The first thing I noticed about The Northman was just how purely massive of a film it was, which just sucked me in right away and kept me on the edge of my seat. The story is just a fantastic blend of ultra-violent Viking-era goodness with dashes of folklore which added a layer that was just icing on the cake for me. I won’t give anything away of course, but Eggers finds a way to blend fantasy and reality within the confines of the story in such a way that you can’t help but feel connected to the characters and their journey. Man, I just want to sit in the same room with Eggers and listen to this guy talk about how he makes his incredible vision come to life on-screen.

As much as the incredible scale of the film and the gorgeous visuals matter, they wouldn’t be effectively utilized without storytelling that really in so many ways defies all odds. Co-written by Eggers and the talented Icelandic author Sjón, who recently co-wrote the 2021 horror drama Lamb, the screenplay is without a doubt the backbone of the film. It is just so intensely detailed and well thought out that I couldn’t possibly bang out a review right after seeing it, I needed at least 24 hours to process. Plus, I am finding it increasingly difficult to talk about how amazing of a film it is without giving anything away. But, as always I will stick to my spoiler-free promise. I know my wife won’t see it so I tried talking to her about the movie and she just looked at me like I had 6 heads, so yeah, YOU (just picture me pointing like the old school Army recruitment poster) need to see this so I have someone to dissect it with. Just prepare for hours of slowly marinating in the delicious juices of quality storytelling.

Just to scratch the surface, the story itself is built around Alexander Skarsgård’s character Amleth, and the trauma he endured as a child. The journey he embarks on that is fueled by relentless revenge is as incredible as it is grueling, and you can see the unrelenting determination in his eyes and in his mannerisms. Once you see Skarsgård and his 6 foot 5 inch physical specimen of a frame maniacally roaming a poor village covered in blood while wearing a damn wolf as a hat, and just straight murdering people like they are nothing more than mosquitos, you’ll know this movie means business. The wolf part is significant but I won’t get into it to avoid spoilers, but I will say that the character of Amleth is the absolute last person you want to piss off. Trust me on that. Without giving anything away, the film does include a really cool scene that I can only describe as the Viking version of rugby, and it was such a cool addition to the film that also proved to be a pivotal piece of the story.

If I had to describe the acting for The Northman in one word, it would have to be groundbreaking in terms of how big of an impact it had on the film. You can tell by just reading names off the cast list that it is pretty much stacked, but some certainly contributed more than others. The majority of the screen-time is reserved for Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, and Claes Bang. I know I talked about Skarsgård some already and his overall impact on the film, but it simply cannot be understated. His performance was just insane in my opinion, and considering what he likely had to endure to deliver such a performance, he is more than deserving of a Best Actor nomination at next year’s Academy Awards. He just crushed this role.

Starring alongside him is one of Hollywood’s fastest rising stars in Anya Taylor-Joy, who made her feature-film debut back in 2015 with The Witch. in 7 short, or very long years if you want to point out 2020-2022, she has become a household name. I was a fan of hers after seeing The Witch and knew she was an up-and-coming actress, and we even got a shout out from her on social media when we did our review. Also, is it weird to say that Taylor-Joy became a woman right before our very eyes in The Northman?! But in all seriousness, the talented 26-year-old actress from Miami, Florida is deserving of her success, and her performance in The Northman was nothing short of spectacular. I bought into her character from the outset, and loved the relationship that developed between her and Skarsgård. The chemistry was absolute fire, with one particularly intimate scene that just blew my mind, and I see a best supporting actress nomination in her future.

Next up is a generational actress in Nicole Kidman, who made her acting debut back in 1983. Although she only has a single Oscar win which is a travesty if you ask me, she is without question one of the best out there. In the film she plays Queen Gudrún, the mother of Amleth, and to say there is more than meets the eye with her would be selling you short. Her character is extremely complex, allowing Kidman the opportunity to utilize her full range of acting talent and she does just that. The final chapter of the film offers up some very intense and exciting, if not a bit cringeworthy at times, scenes including her and Skarsgård. A supporting actress nod could be in her future as well, although her limited screen-time compared to Taylor-Joy may hurt her chances. Danish actor Claes Bang stars as Skarsgård’s uncle, and the films primary antagonist. I thought he was fantastic throughout the film, and I enjoyed trying to figure out his character as he seemed to transform within the films primary story arch. Bang also manages to somehow match Skarsgård’s intensity, which was no easy feat trust me. Ethan Hawke stars in the film as well, but he plays a much more limited role as Skarsgård’s father. But rest assured, he is fantastic in his limited minutes as per usual. Be sure to check him out this summer in the horror thriller The Black Phone (preview and trailer here).

The supporting cast is aplenty so I can’t touch on all of them, but from one of my all-time favorite actors in Willem Defoe, to Iceland native musician turned actress Björk who is amazing as The Seeress (check out the films alternate posters if you have a chance), right on to Olwen Fouéré, Gustav Lindh, and Elliott Rose, the list is long and trust me when I say everyone brought their A-game, and then some. And if you were expecting me to make mention of Alexander Skarsgård's real-life brother Bill, the star of the It remakes, he had to drop out of the film due to scheduling conflicts after production halted due to the pandemic.

The camera work was as good as you will ever see, with every single shot feeling so genuinely intentional and raw. I loved how Eggers made it a point to always ensure each frame had a primary focal point, which speaks to his keen eye for detail. His chemistry working with Blaschke is obvious as the two work very well in sync with each shot, ensuring that viewers always feel close to the action and immersed in the environments. Eggers previously worked with him on his first two films, The Witch and The Lighthouse. Admittedly I have a sweet spot for amazing cinematography and I couldn’t take my eyes of the screen even if I wanted to. I often found myself mesmerized and just staring off into this world that was created for us to enjoy. Louise Ford did a great job with the editing as well, making sure that even though the film had a ton going on, it all felt seamless and it all just flowed really well. She also worked with Eggers on The Lighthouse. They were able to create a few long-shot scenes as well, most importantly during the films finale.

Next I have to talk about the films score which was just chilling and invigorating all at the same time. You just knew when something important was about to happen, and Skarsgård’s imposing presence was always matched with a burst of musical energy. It was hard to describe what exactly I was hearing at any given time, but the sound always had an upbeat and thrilling feel to it. After reading up on Robin Carolan and Sebastian Gainsborough, I learned that the two have worked together for quite some time under Carolan’s independent music label, Tri Angle. Gainsborough specializes in a combination of electronic and orchestral music. The label has collaborated with several artists over the years, but singer/songwriter/actress Björk was one of the early supporters. Björk, who plays a supporting role in the film, seemed to have had some influence when it came to bringing Carolan and Gainsborough to work on The Northman, as this is the first film score the two have worked on together, or separately for that matter. Quite a way to break in to the business, and judging by Eggers seemingly unrelenting loyalty working with many of the same people on his projects, I think it is safe to say we will be hearing from this duo again.

Taking a break from gushing over the beauty of the film for just a moment, the sheer scale of The Northman is quite an experience in itself. The gorgeous and vast Icelandic filming location offered the film an opportunity to feel as grand as it’s cast and story. I loved everything about this setting and the way that it made the world Eggers was able to create feel larger-than life. Each time the camera panned back and allowed the environment to take over the frame, I was in pure awe. It got to the point where I just couldn’t wait to experience the next shot just to take it all in, and I absolutely preferred the daylight scenes as it allowed me the opportunity to really take it in.

Now we have arrived at Eggers 3rd and by far his biggest film as far as budget and scale, The Northman, and his first film not to be under the umbrella of famed independent film distributor/production company A24. From the outset it is clear this is one of his films as his signature style is felt throughout. Whether it be the attention to detail that stays true to Norse mythology and the Viking age, the masterful detail in the sets throughout the film, or the incredible costume design, it was clear this was a film he took great pride in making.

THE BAD

I have very little to harp on when it comes to this film, but I feel like a few things should be mentioned. A film from Robert Eggers isn’t meant to appeal to mainstream audiences, and The Northman is no different. But in no way is that a knock on the film itself, quite the opposite to be honest. He isn’t concerned with CGI or cheesy action sequences, he wants to immerse viewers in this world he has created right before your eyes, and he wants you to take something away from it. This means you will be treated to stunning visuals and some very creative camera work which oftentimes take center stage, but that is just part of his genius. At the end of the day he is an artist offering up a piece of himself to allow us to experience something truly special, and for that I am thankful. So let that serve as a bit of a heads up in terms of what to expect, but if you give the The Northman a chance, it will pay off huge in the end trust me.

Okay this a Viking-era film, set in the year 914 to be exact, so needless to say it is extremely violent. I lost count in terms of how many heads were permanently removed from their bodies, but it was closing in on John Wick headshot numbers. But let me say this, The Northman really isn’t as violent as it could have been, and that is a testament to Eggers and his vision. He isn’t concerned with blood and guts for the sake of blood and guts, he wants substance that will help move the story along in an authentic way. He wants you to feel and experience the violence of the film as it is a necessary element to the storytelling, but he finds ways to get the point across without being overly in your face. But, the film is still very violent pretty much from start to finish, with a few holy sh*t that just happened type scenes, so just brace yourself for that and you will be fine.

THE VERDICT

An epic tale of revenge brought to life by stunning cinematography and transformative performances from Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy, The Northman is a powerful and expertly crafted film that serves as yet another notch in the belt of talented writer/director Robert Eggers. I mean, Braveheart meets 300? Interested? Yeah, I thought so. The film is just a clinic when you talk about the technical side or better yet the finer elements of filmmaking, the beating heart of film if you will.

The Northman is as massive as it is unique, and without a doubt begs to be seen on the big-screen as it is a special experience you won’t soon forget. I know I didn’t touch on the awards potential too much during the review, but if this film isn’t named in a ton of categories at next years Academy Awards, I will throw my remote through my TV, and regret it immediately. So with that being said, please, please, please for the love of all things cinema and all of the men and women who pour blood sweat and tears into making a film like this possible, go and see The Northman in theaters to ensure that talented directors like Robert Eggers continue to be entrusted with creating quality films like this. He is the future of filmmaking and his films need our support, so go see this movie as soon as you can. And if you are anything like Andrew or myself, you’ll want to see it two or three times at least before purchasing the Blu-ray when it releases just to soak it all in. Highly recommended.