The Northman
Starring Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy and Claes Bang
Rated MA15+
5/5
Directed by auteur Robert Eggers, The Northman is a brutal, riveting historical epic.
In tenth-century Iceland, Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard), son of a murdered king, vows to avenge his father, save his mother Gudrun (Nicole Kidman) and kill his traitorous uncle Fjolnir (Claes Bang).
Like Hamlet, The Northman is a sobering portrait of the multiplying cruelties of vengeance.
The Scandinavian legend of Amleth was the direct inspiration for Hamlet, and The Northman is a fascinating fusion of the source legend and Shakespeare’s play. The shrunken head of a fool provides the ‘Poor Yorick’ moment, but advances the plot by instructing Amleth to find a special sword. Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), the film’s Ophelia, has more agency in helping Amleth to sow fear and confusion in Fjolnir’s court. The play to catch the conscience of the King is now spiked food and deliberate acts of terror. Gudrun/Gertrude has more to say for herself, and Fjolnir is a more active and sympathetic antagonist than Claudius, as a cruel chieftain but a loving father.
The pacing is an entrancing slow-burn of scheming punctuated by shocking violence. The staggering cinematography captures breathtaking landscapes, muddy villages and rustic fire-lit halls, juxtaposed with vibrant imagery of Norse magic and ritual. Amleth undergoes a tragic, engaging arc: battle-hardened as a Viking and obsessed with vengeance, Amleth is softened by Olga’s love and questions his motives as he learns the damning truth of his family.
Unlike Hamlet, which has the classic feel-bad, everyone-dies ending, The Northman is slightly more optimistic: vengeance is still vicious and self-defeating, but may be done for a noble purpose beyond pride.
The Northman will amply satisfy action, Shakespeare and Skarsgard fans and anyone looking for a visually-stunning, remarkably-crafted historical film.
– Seth Lukas Hynes
