The Northman then introduces us to the adult Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard in one of the best performances ever). He’s rowing a Viking ship with many other men. A raid happens, and let me tell you, it is badass. Skarsgard climbs up a twenty-foot wall with an axe, jumps off, and brutally destroys I-don’t-know-how-many-men in the course of a minute. All of this was in a single shot as well. So, it’s very impressive both technically and narratively. Here, in the Land of Rus, Amleth encounters a witch (Bjork, who I’m glad to see back on screen), who reminds him of his past. Amleth takes up his mission again, repeating the mantra he screamed out as a child while rowing away from his ancestral home. “I will avenge you, father. I will save you, mother. I will kill you, Fjölnir.”
As luck, if you want to call it that, his crew is sending a shipment of slaves to Fjölnir. So he cuts off most of his hair and joins them. A mysterious blonde woman named Olga of the Birch Forest (Anya Taylor-Joy) is among the people on the ship. It doesn’t take long for Amleth and Olga to form a bond. Upon reaching Fjölnir, we discover that his kingdom was usurped by the King of Norway almost right after he killed Aurvandil, so he lives in Iceland on a farm with Queen Gudrun and their son Gunnar (Elliot Rose), as well as Fjölnir’s eldest son, Thórir The Proud (Gustav Lindh). Fjölnir is called “The Brotherless” for killing his brother for a crown that soon became irrelevant.
“…Eggers immerses us in the world of Norse mythology…”
It is then that Amleth begins his slow-burning vengeance, and it is just amazing. The violence throughout The Northman is certainly not for everyone, but I thought the way it was orchestrated looked gorgeous while also being viscerally disturbing. Eggers immerses us in the world of Norse mythology, where Odin reigns supreme and Valkyries carry you to Valhalla if you die in battle. Visually and technically, the movie is a marvel. The performances are all top-tier. This is not surprising considering the cast or the director. It’s a must-see if you want to see one of the best Kidman performances since Big Little Lies. Naturally, Skarsgard kills it, but even people with minor roles, such as Willem Defoe as Heimir The Fool or Bjork, bring their A-game to the table.
Essentially, I cannot give the film enough praise. It is one of the most authentic pieces of Viking-based fiction I’ve ever seen. People who liked Vikings or Game of Thrones will love this. It’s probably the most metal movie of the 21st century, despite not featuring any metal music or being about metal. You’ll see what I mean when you watch it. It is essentially Bathory’s wet dream. What else can I really say, except Eggers directed it, so obviously, it’s good. That man cannot make a bad picture. If he ever does, I think the world might end immediately afterward. However, we’re safe for now because The Northman is, despite how overused this word is, genuinely amazing!
"…[Eggers] cannot make a bad picture. If he ever does, I think the world might end..."
