The Northman

I am a huge fan of Robert Eggers (I think The Lighthouse and The Witch are both masterpieces) so The Northman was another one of my most anticipated movies of 2022.  I had the chance to see it last night at a Thursday preview and it certainly did not disappoint!  King Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke) returns home from battle with many injuries so he holds an initiation rite for his young son and heir, Prince Amleth (Oscar Novak), which is presided over by his friend Heimir (Willem Dafoe).  Amleth receives visions about his destiny and promises his father that he will avenge him should he fall in battle.  Soon after, Amleth witness his uncle Fjolnir (Claes Bang) brutally murder his father and kidnap his mother Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman).  Amleth escapes pursuit and vows to avenge his father, save his mother, and kill Fjolnir.  Years later Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard) has become a Viking warrior but, when he encounters a seeress (Bjork) while sacking a village, he is reminded of his vow and soon discovers that Fjolnir has been overthrown and exiled to Iceland.  He smuggles aboard a ship taking slaves to Fjolnir and encounters Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), a sorceress with whom he eventually begins a relationship.  As he comes face to face with Fjolnir, he struggles to fulfill his destiny because he must choose between showing kindness to his kin or hatred for his enemy.  This is a very simple revenge story but the references to Norse mythology and symbolism (it is based on a medieval Scandinavian legend which is also the source material for Shakespeare's play Hamlet) are what make it so interesting and compelling, particularly the portrayal of the Tree of Kings, the Valkyrie, and Valhalla.  The images on the screen are stunning and feature the usual atmospheric world-building that Eggers is known for.  I lost count of how many times I was mesmerized by the beauty of a particular shot.  I also loved the sound design, the heart-pounding score, and the period detail.  The medieval warfare is visceral and unrelenting, especially the final confrontation between Amleth and Fjolnir, and many might be put off by this but I found it exhilarating!  Skarsgard is an absolute beast but I also found Kidman's portrayal of Queen Gudrun to be fascinating (it made me rethink Queen Gertrude's motivations in Hamlet) and Taylor-Joy is luminous.  Eggers has done it again because The Northman is brutal, bloody, and brilliant (but might not be for everyone).