AT THE MOVIES

by Isy Jordan

The Northman
Director: Robert Eggers
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawk, Anya Tylor-Joy, and more.


From visionary director Robert Eggers comes The Northman, an action-filled epic that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father's murder.

With films like The Witch and The Lighthouse, you have to admit director Robert Eggers has a very distinct style of filmmaking. I'd been waiting for The Northman for some time. Like his other films, the film built slowly but on a grand scale. It told the story of the cycle of violence and its consequences. At the same time, it was a well-crafted homage to Viking heritage.

It's the story of a young prince, excited at the return of his king father (Hawk). The family and kingdom celebrate his return but it's not long before the king's brother (Bang) kills the king, orders the death of the prince who is just a boy, and takes the queen (Kidman) for his own. The prince manages to escape his uncle's men and make it to a boat, vowing revenge.

Some years later, Ameluth has become a huge Viking warrior experienced at killing in a variety of ways. Consumed by bitterness, when he finds out his uncle lost his father's kingdom and opportunity gives him a chance to infiltrate his uncle's village as a captured slave, he takes it.

What a dark journey. The film is heavy on messaging and violent. Eggers' unique style sends us on many hypnotic sequences saturated in rage and ancient custom. It's emotionally engaging and the cast is excellent in bringing this beautiful film to life. There's so much to take in here and it's a damn-near perfect cinematically. The story comes to a conclusion that took me off guard. It might not be the most satisfying but it's true to the story.

This film is not for the younger set. I'm happy to say there's no sexual violence depicted on the screen but otherwise, it's gory and unrelenting. It pushes the boundaries of its R rating and it's two hours and 17 minutes long. I do recommend it because when it comes to films about Norse culture, I've never seen one quite this good.

Isy