If you’re like me, you’ve eagerly awaited brilliant writer-director Robert Egger’s latest film, The Northman. Well, there’s good news, it’s now available on VOD, Digital, DVD, and Blu-ray.
Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Ethan Hawke, Nicole Kidman, and Anya Taylor-Joy, the film follows young prince Amleth, whose father, the king (Hawke), is killed by his uncle and his throne stolen along with his mother. Amleth swears to avenge his father and save his mother. Hidden amongst a berserker tribe, he grows into a strong fighter who kills like it’s an everyday mundane activity. After a raid, a vision sends him on a quest for revenge, and he brings death to anyone who stands in his way.
Entwined with the story are the old legends of the north, worship of gods Odin and Freyja, ceremonies, and sacrifice. Mystics trigger otherworldly visions as men crawl on all fours like dogs, and Valcaries carry the fortunate off to Valhalla.
From beginning to end, The Northman is simply stunning. The cinematography is amazing, especially during the visions and scenes of people dancing around fires. Eggers’ films all have a certain feel and look, and The Northman is no different. Like his past films, The Witch and The Lighthouse, Eggers creates a world split between reality and hallucination that explores the pagan past.
Alexander Skarsgård beefed up for his role; he’s massive with ripped muscles. Not only did he physically fit the part of a first fighter who howls like a wolf, he truly captured the heart of a broken son. In my opinion, this is without a doubt his best role and performance to date.
The entire movie was fantastically cast. Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays Amleth’s love interest Olga was a fantastic choice and did well at playing her role. I do wish we would have seen Ethan Hawke’s character a little more, but it is what it is.
The story is not only gripping but will have you completely invested in the main characters, which doesn’t happen much these days. As for action, you will get your fill. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not all about blood and guts; there are tender moments and moments filled with emotion and heartbreak. Even though Amleth is a brutal man, you can’t help but feel for him. Fate has not been kind.
The Northman, at its heart, is about love, this man’s love for his family and his father, who will stop at nothing to avenge, and the love he finds with Olga while being enslaved. It’s love that drives him to extremes.
The Northman is incredible and will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I do not doubt that you’ll find it on this year’s Top 10 list. However, there is one warning I must give. This film may be hard to watch if you are an animal lover. There are multiple scenes of animal sacrifice.
The Blu-ray and DVD special features include deleted and extended scenes, including ‘An Ageless Epic,’ which explores the deep dive the filmmaker and cast took to recreate the characters correctly. ‘The Faces of Vikings’ features a discussion of the film’s characters. And the final is a feature commentary by director Robert Eggers.
One of the best parts of the Collector’s Edition is the numerous and fantastic bonus features. The first, ‘Amleth’s Journey to Manhood,’ delves into Amleth’s initiation. We are given an in-depth look at how the ritual was created and executed. Next, ‘Shooting the Raid’ goes behind the scenes and reveals how it took different departments coming together to create the raid sequence. In ‘Knattleiker Game,’ we learn the rules of the oh-so-brutal and sometimes deadly game. And why it is such an important scene for Amleth’s story. ‘A Norse Landscape’ explores the landscape that became the film’s backdrop and the difficulties of shooting in North Ireland.
My Verdict? The Northman is an absolute must-see! Luckily, it’s out now.
