“The Northman” Review
Alexander Skarsgård stars in “The Northman” as Almeth, a prince seeking to avenge his father by going on a blood-fueled rampage.
True epics are hard to make and harder to resonate with audiences. “The Deer Hunter” and “Heaven’s Gate” were both made by Michael Cimino but the former was hailed and the latter was shunned. I say this because, to make a fantastic epic, there has to be less reliance on being epic in size and more epic in the character’s struggle. Director Robert Eggers achieves just that with “The Northman.”
Set in the ninth century, a viking prince named Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) watches his father King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) be murdered by his brother Fjölnir (Claes Bang). Swearing to avenge his father, save his mother (Nicole Kidman) and kill Fjölnir, Amleth grows up to become a mighty warrior and, with the aid of a witch (Anya Taylor-Joy), begins a brutal quest to fulfill his oath.
The film is somewhat of a risk for Eggers because his previous two films, “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse,” are pretty small in scale with limited casts. Now, his third film is full of sweeping armies, large set pieces and truly epic filmmaking. Eggers’ direction is outstanding and the way he tells this story is a refreshing take on both epic films and the idea of revenge.
Skarsgård is stellar as Amleth but his performance is very different from your typical epic. He doesn’t speak that much and Skarsgård makes the performance more physical. You can tell just what he’s thinking from the look of his face or how he’s moving. It’s a captivating performance with little dialogue because everything Almeth does is in the service of revenge.
Anya Taylor-Joy is a huge star now but she made her debut in “The Witch” and it’s great to see her working on another Eggers film. Her performance in “The Northman” is fascinating because she’s always reserved in her emotions but you can tell there’s something going on beneath the surface.
With “The Northman,” Robert Eggers is able to command a massive cast with so many big names like Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke and Nicole Kidman and create a powerful epic. The film’s cinematographer, frequent collaborator Jarin Blaschke, makes one beautiful film utilizing both realism and fantasy images straight out of a Norse myth.
With an amazing atmosphere, Eggers and Sjón have co-written a truly investing revenge story. The film’s theme of revenge is not just a simple quest for blood. “The Northman” not only addresses the obsession and how far you’re willing to go for honor but it also brings up that maybe what you’re fighting for isn’t that noble.
The world of “The Northman” isn’t a noble one or a forgiving one. There’s an epic sense of realism to the film that intrigued me and kept me invested in Almeth’s journey. While Robert Eggers is still known as a horror filmmaker who handles smaller projects, I hope that this isn’t his only epic. The way he looks at locations and characters is fascinating because he showcases the savagery of human nature in a way that audiences will enjoy.
