The Northman - Review

Rating: 9/10

THE NORTHMAN  is a visually stunning and ferociously epic tale of revenge. The story is enticing from start to finish, the characters are relatable and distinctive, the action sequences are incredibly shot and choregraphed, the setting and atmosphere is astoundingly vivid, and the climax of this film is volcanic (literally).

The story itself is a simple tale of revenge, but the dark and intense tone, the rich characters, and the fascinating Norse mythology/lore makes this film such an incredible watch. Alexander Skarsgard is a pure beast in this film and he gives a raw, ferocious and downright animalistic performance as the main character Amleth. The journey he goes through and his development as a character by the end of the film is very satisfying. The other standout performances for me are Claes Bang as Fjolnir, Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga and Nicole Kidman as Queen Gudrun.

This film is also a visual spectacle. The landscapes and locations themselves are beautiful in and of itself, but the film is also shot and lit in a uniquely vivid style and that is courtesy of cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, who is a rising star and is my current favorite cinematographer. The film’s score by Robin Carolan and Sebastian Gainsborough is also stellar and combined with the tremendous production design (Craig Lathrop) and costumes (Linda Muir), all these technical elements bring this mythic story to life and makes this film truly immersive and surreal to watch. Director Robert Eggers is a mastermind of creating atmosphere and giving the viewer a truly transportive experience like none other.

The pacing of this film is extremely efficient for a 2 hour and 17 minute runtime, aside from a small portion of the 2nd act which dragged a bit for me, which is the only small crumb of a criticism I have for this incredible film.

The climax of this film is pure cinema. The last 45 minutes is a non-stop rollercoaster ride with tense action, shocking revelations, epic visuals and an emotionally satisfying resolution. It is probably one of my favorite climaxes of a film, alongside DUNE: PART 2 and OPPENHEIMER. 

THE NORTHMAN is a breathtakingly unique experience like no other and a film-making feat of mythical proportions.

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Director: Robert Eggers

Writer: Robert Eggers

Runtime: 2h 17m

Release Date: April 2022

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