The Northman Movie Review

Robert Eggers has proven himself to be one of the most unique and versatile filmmakers in the business. His previous two efforts 2016s ‘The Witch’ and 2019s ‘The Lighthouse’ rank among the best films of their respective years, so it was easy to see why people were getting excited about another outing from the acclaimed writer/director. 2022s ‘The Northman’ is his biggest film to date, in terms of spectacle and budget, with the film costing a reported $90 Million US, before marketing costs. ‘The Northman’ follows a young Viking Prince, Almeth (played by Alexander Sarsgaard) who is on a journey of revenge, after his father is murdered by his uncle at a young age. The film boasts gorgeous visuals, a wonderful revenge plot and a fantastic cast. These elements all culminate for one of the best cinematic experiences of 2022.

‘The Northman’ is easily Director Robert Eggers most accessible film to date. The film's plot remains easy to follow, although period accurate dialogue and historical attention to detail, may make viewing a little hard for some viewers. The attention to detail is one of the aspects of the film I admire from the director. By fine tuning the details, Eggers is able to create an epic that feels grounded and realistic, even though it does delve into the Norse mysticism, which was equal parts beautiful as it was epic. Eggers visual style lends to some of the most starkly beautiful and yet hauntingly tragic sequences I have seen on the big screen in quite some time.

As mentioned, the performances here are stellar. Alexander Skarsgaard is a standout, as the film's protagonist Almeth. His story of revenge is one well told, with it being quite reminiscent of Hamlet, but his performance helps elevate the material as you feel his pain, but also understand the brutality behind his actions. Anya Taylor Joy is also stunning here, re-teaming with Eggers after the two tackled ‘The Witch’ together in 2016, in Joy’s breakout performance. The supporting cast of Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Willem Defoe and Ethan Hawke are all stellar. Bringing a level of gravitas to the film that we have come to expect from a Robert Eggers production. These performances, blended with Eggers direction are what make ‘The Northman’ a memorable experience.

All-in-all, ‘The Northman’ is one of the best films of 2022 thus far. The gorgeous filmmaking on display, mixed with some of the best performances of the year, culminates for one hell of an experience. This is a must have for history buffs and those who are interested in Viking culture and Norse legend. Head on over to Sanity to pre-order your copy today on DVD, Blu-Ray or 4K UHD, you won’t want to miss it. Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity.

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here