“I will avenge you, Father. I will save you, Mother. I will kill you, Uncle.” That is the plot in a nutshell. It is director Robert Eggers that makes it a unique experience. For those familiar with this talented director, he brought us the indie films ‘The Witch’ in 2015 and ‘The Lighthouse’ in 2019. He is responsible for introducing actress Anya Taylor-Joy to the world. In his third film ‘The Northman,’ Eggers is given a hefty budget. This is a Viking revenge film like no other. Its origins lie in Scandinavian folklore with a hint of Hamlet thrown in for good measure. ‘The Northman’ is a bloody spectacle that should not be missed.
There is something trippy in a Robert Eggers’ film. He does his research. ‘The Northman’ is no exception. The detail to capture the authenticity of 10th century Viking life is impeccable. The sets, the costumes, the language are accurately depicted. This allows the audience to be immersed into the story. It’s a visceral experience. You feel the cold, the mud and the blood splattered through the gruesome fight scenes. Eggers artfully mixes the historical reality with the supernatural. I kept thinking to myself how difficult life must have been during this time period.
The young Prince Amleth (Oscar Novak) is excited for the return of his father King Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke) from his raids. The King is seriously wounded so decides to have a hallucinatory ceremony. The court’s jester Heimer The Fool (Willem Dafoe) conducts Amleth’s initiation as heir to the throne. The following day, Amleth witnesses his Uncle Fjolnir (Claes Bang) kill his father and steal his mother Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman). Amleth manages to escape vowing to return and kill his uncle and save his mother. It’s a traumatic experience for the young man.
Years later, we see Amleth as an adult. He is now a buffed savage warrior. He learns that his uncle has lost the throne and runs a farm in Iceland. After a day of pillaging, some of the captured villagers are sold as slaves. Amleth decides to pose as a slave when he meets Olga of the Birch Forest (Anya Taylor-Joy). His uncle and mother do not recognize Amleth as an adult. This allows him to gain their trust and hatch a scheme for revenge. The violence is fast and vicious. Amleth kills the people closest to his uncle until that fateful day they have a showdown on a volcano. I’m not kidding!
The performances are compelling. Skarsgard has taken method acting to another level. He is completely believable as a savage warrior. I can just imagine the physical preparation he must have endured to get so brawny. Although he is a fighting machine, it is the women in his life that show his vulnerable side. The real question he must answer is do I live happily ever after with Olga or do I continue my quest to kill my uncle? That’s the moral dilemma he faces.
There have been plenty of good stories about Vikings. However, the story is in the telling. That is what separates director Robert Eggers from the pack. He does his homework. He does not shy away from authenticity. He does not shy away from the violence. He incorporates the supernatural and dreams to his stories. ‘The Northman’ goes beyond the paint-by-the-numbers Viking tales. Eggers has a way of plunging us into the world of Vikings and makes us taste it. The stunning visuals, outstanding acting and hypnotic music make this film one for the ages. It’s a masterpiece!
