FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Northman
Director: Robert Eggers
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Björk
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 2 hr 15 mins

What It Is: 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 raids Slavic villages. He soon meets a seeress who reminds him of his vow — save his mother, kill his uncle, avenge his father.

What We Think: Whether it be a story of a haunted family during 1630’s New England in The Witch, or an atmospheric and sinister tale of two lighthouse keepers adrift in an impossible storm with The Lighthouse, during the past few years Robert Eggers has graced us with tumultuous, terrifying, and brilliant storytelling. In the case of The Northman (out this weekend in theaters), he certainly hasn’t pumped the brakes.

This film and David Lowery’s The Green Knight have given me hope for the fantasy genre going into the future, and both films share a quality that is an absolute given, which is the masterful presentation of said genre. Jarin Blaschke (cinematographer) is the perfect brush to Egger’s canvas, as the visuals here are indeed breathtaking – more so when you realize that most of the film was shot on location in grueling conditions. Beautiful long takes and wide shots make up the massive scale here, with almost invisible camerawork that lifts the story too incredible heights – it’s his best-looking film yet. That itself is a marvel, due to some of those shots being made with digital effects, but the blending of the two is hardly noticeable. The art department did a fantastic job at capturing the look and feel of the time period (Eggers never fails at doing so), the sound design is impeccable in almost every area, and having Icelandic composers to do the film’s score is a very welcome choice for the guttural and majestic atmosphere that is achieved through all those previous aspects.

Performance-wise, everyone here is excellent. Alexander Skarsgård plays a ferocious and brutal character, but in moments of tenderness, he shows an equal amount of tragedy and sorrow in his performance. Anya Taylor-Joy has the time of her life with this role (doesn’t she always?), as captivating to watch on screen as she is deeply intertwined with the part. Her character is an important piece of the story, and the chemistry between her and Skarsgård is a shining quality of the film. As for Watts, Hawke, Dafoe, and the rest of the cast, they’re all terrific in their respective roles. There are also a few familiar faces from The Witch who made cameo appearances, which I was delighted to see.

As for the story, here is where audience opinion may differ. While The Northman has an excellent presentation, the narrative itself is, by all intents and purposes, your classic revenge story. Those who expect something as intricate as The Lighthouse is in for a different type of experience here, as it has the look and feel of an Eggers picture, but by weaving in a classic (dare I say it) trope of a thrilling genre, it both appeals to and challenges fans of his previous films. That is something special that The Northman asks – what do you get when you have a visionary director used to lower budget productions and working with those restrictions who tackles a fantasy epic of a massive scale? The answer is a film that comes as authentic, new, and fiercely honest in feeling. And this goes without saying: be prepared to see some brutal, brutal action set pieces here, with all the savage Viking imagery done gloriously.

What We Think: A+; The Northman is another exceptional film by Robert Eggers. His (now) trademark authenticity, dazzling visuals, and thrilling lead performances make up an epic experience that you must have in theaters this weekend. And for fans of the fantasy genre or of Norse mythology, you’re in for a feast.