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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.

Robert Eggers is a fantastic director, but his first two films do not necessarily have “mass appeal.” Do we (on Letterboxd) love them? Oh yes, but more causal movie-goers are dividid on his filmography. While The Northman keeps that excellent artistic feeling from his first two films, this feels like his most accessible outing yet. It is simple and straightforward, yet this may just work in its favor. My only concern is the pacing, which will not work for everyone, but I have faith that it will not entirely trip it up. I love Eggers because he consistently seems to have a feel for each character as an individual, but the ensemble always comes together to work fluidly with the story. No one element overshadows another, and that is especially the case with something like The Lighthouse. In The Northman, there are numerous elements to praise from the opening alone; the cinematography is fantastic, there is this dark and epic tone that provides a haunting feeling, and the story grabs you. After we begin with a tragic backstory, Amleth embarks on his journey and is determined to make everything right. His revenge-filled quest is one that occasionally slows down to build its characters, but the way everything culminates in the third act makes it all worth waiting for. I would not classify it as an action-heavy film, but these scenes hit extremely hard when we get them. 

The highlight, beyond Eggers’ impressive direction, is Skarsgard as Amleth. You feel his rage, passion, and undeniable strength with every swing of his sword. These swords and weapons have been proven to be heavy, and you are able to feel the weight of each item by the way these characters use them; this is a great example of Eggers’ attention to detail. The sound effects pop when these weapons meet, and the strength behind lifting them is something you can feel. Beyond Skarsgard, the rest of the cast is fantastic. Nicole Kidman steals every scene, Claes Bang is ruthless, and Anya Taylor-Joy provides everything her character requires. Ethan Hawke has predictably little screen-time, but Willem Dafoe feels genuinely underutilized. Not only do a few characters feel shortchanged, but there are a few story points that never get expanded upon. The focus isn’t always on what is most interesting, so when we get these misplaced scenes, they may cause viewers to lose investment. That being said, I never found myself feeling less interested, as something was always working for me. The detail and color grading within every shot was enough to have me locked in. Those who do not respond to period-pieces dealing with Norse mythology may not love this one. The way it all comes together is epic, and the occasional splash of action will keep viewers hooked. The film is intense and brutal until the final scene, and that payoff is one that worked well for me.

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