Bloody Disgusting’s The Northman review is spoiler-free.
“I will avenge you, Father. I will save you, Mother. I will kill you, Fjölnir.” The eponymous character repeats this mantra from childhood, immediately after witnessing tragedy, well into adulthood. It focuses his primal rage, directing his hate and tying his fate to a singular mission of revenge. The Northman remains so steadfast in its commitment to vengeance through punishing violence, gritty authenticity, mesmerizing style, and mysticism that many of its more fascinating themes get lost on the journey.
Alexander Skarsgård stars as Amleth, the son of War-Raven King Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke). As a child, Amleth barely escapes with his life and flees into the sea after witnessing his uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang) murder his father and claim his mother, Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman), as his wife. Years later, Amleth’s assimilation into a marauding clan directs his deep-seated fury into pillaging and combat until a Seeress (Björk) hauntingly reminds him of his vows. Now of an age to fulfill them, Amleth sets off on a blood-drenched quest to fulfill his destiny.
Director Robert Eggers, who co-wrote The Northman with Sjón (Lamb), again displays a meticulously researched vision that ambiguously blurs the lines between realism and the supernatural. This is a feral world where Viking warriors aspire to die on the battlefield, where growing old is perceived as less honorable. They hope that Valkyries will come to carry them to Valhalla upon death and evoke the spirit of wolves around the fire before battle. They turn to shamans and seers to perform strange magic to determine their fates. It’s a savage, unforgiving setting full of mud, entrails, and brute force; kill or be killed at best or be enslaved at worst. The precise type of harsh world that hardens its youth at a far too early age.
This detailed vision and heightened scope make Eggers’ latest so impressive. The breathtaking tracking shots that follow Amleth post-battle, capturing the chaos and spoils of war behind him as he slips through the mud between huts, convey so much visually about this world and its characters. The rhythmic pulse of beating drums and guttural screams add to the tactile, sensory experience. The purposeful but brutal violence meted out at every step of Amleth’s mission won’t be for the weak-stomached. All of it creates a detailed and rich tapestry of Viking life.
Beyond that, though, Eggers keeps Amleth’s journey so straightforward that many of the more interesting components remain shallow throughout. There’s a futility to Amleth’s vengeance, causing his drive to lose steam by the climax. An awe-inducing final confrontation creates a stunning spectacle that ultimately rings empty. How women factor into this cruel world creates another untaken path; Anya Taylor-Joy‘s Olga makes for a unique character that becomes solely defined by her relationship with Amleth. Eggers never examines how her witchcraft factors into the culture beyond superficial purposes. Kidman’s character, though brief, fares much more substantial for more obvious reasons; the legend of Amleth is a direct inspiration to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, after all.
Eggers’ commitment to maintaining the accuracy of the period and the influences makes for a visual feast but binds it narratively. That dedication extends to the cast, delivering solid performances that immerse you in this testosterone-driven world. The raw emotion and range in Bang’s Fjölnir stand out among the rest. But the undeterred straight-line coursing through this action epic means that it doesn’t resonate as strongly as Eggers’ previous efforts. The beating heart of The Northman is a familiar tale of revenge, but in Eggers’ hands, it’s at least deeply engrossing.
The Northman opens in theaters on April 22, 2022.
