'The Northman' A Review

The Northman is a historical action/drama set in the late 9th century that opens on the return of King Aurvandill(Ethan Hawk) to his holdings after raiding where he is reunited with his wife Queen Gudrún(Nicole Kidman) and young heir Prince Amleth. That evening the King takes Amleth to participate in a spiritual adulthood ceremony overseen by jester Heimir(Willem Dafoe). The next day the King is betrayed and slain by his brother Fjölnir(Claes Bang), Gudrún is taken, and Amleth flees for his life vowing revenge. Years later Amleth(Alexander Skarsgård) is among a berserker band raiding the continent when he is reminded of his vow, he disguises himself as a slave and returns to Iceland connecting with Olga(Anya Taylor-Joy) along the way.

Skarsgård gives his best performance to date- relentless yet emotional, physical, almost primordial, yet nuanced- it's really stunning. There is a brutality to the culture but a poetry too and Skarsgård(along with the whole cast really) are able to convey both equally, to embody that duality/ambiguity in a way that doesn't soft soap the harshness while tapping into a beautiful, mythic resonance. The supporting cast, down the line, are stellar. Kidman particularly gives an incredibly dynamic performance(with a scene of the year contender) with somewhat limited screentime. Dafoe also, although in the film briefly, makes a huge impact and sets the tone perfectly early on. Down the line- Hawk, Bang, Taylor-Joy, cameos from Björk and Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson- all truly great.

Visually the film is stunning, bleakness and beauty in equal measure with an attention to historical accuracy that not only makes it feel real but the spiritual lives of the people are given the same kind of consideration making the whole thing feel both authentic and mystic. There is, albeit limited, some clunky CGI but given everything else it is forgivable. The score is absolutely transportive- drums, chanting, throat singing- it all works together to communicate the vast spiritual scope. 

There are many excellent scenes in the film- action sequences, meetings with witches, an ancient version of lacrosse- but more description would ruin the surprise. It is an intense film and a complicated one, like the sagas and myths it takes inspiration from there is a lot of ambiguity, not a lot of clean answers, but there is incredible richness, moving poetry, as well as blood aplenty. Given a chance the film has much to offer.

Savage and spiritual.

Currently in theaters coming soon to VOD.

Don't Miss It.