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

Very Viking and graphic

Brutal hardcore Nordic mythology that inspired William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Overwhelming visual imagery with strong performances by the whole cast. Not for the faint of heart. 300 meets Braveheart. Top tier filmmaking.

The film begins with a young prince named Amleth, who takes part in a dark ritual with his wounded father, King Aurvandil War-Raven (Ethan Hawke).  The ritual introduces Prince Amleth to the new world of manhood.  As he enters this new stage of his life, the prince promises to avenge his father if he’s ever murdered or killed in combat.  It’s not long until the prince witnesses a tragic betrayal that results in his father being brutally murdered.  With no choice, Prince Amleth runs away from home, vowing to return at an older age seeking revenge for his father’s death and attempting to save his mother, Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman). Jumping forward in time, we see Prince Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard) as an adult taking on the personality of a bloodthirsty werewolf and part of a murderous Viking clan.  A vision tells Prince Amleth that it’s now the time to return back home and hunt down all those who wronged him and his family.  He decides to flee from the Viking clan to serve out slow and painful torment. The Northman is best described as an action film filled with thrilling and gripping moments.  It is also a gritty revenge tale filled with disturbing moments that will have viewers on the edge or perhaps even tensed up.  The action here is brutal, dark and extremly violent.  Amleth decides revenge should be slow and toys with those who wronged him first, leading to many big reveals and showdowns along the way. Directed by Robert Eggers (best known for The Lighthouse and The Witch), some moments feel familiar, especially to The Witch.  While some visual moments are familiar, it’s still jaw-dropping to witness, even if certain visions or aspects don’t resonate or make sense at first.  Action scenes feel raw, and some of the film’s violence shock me deeply, but I was still entertained by what felt like a highly realistic Viking film.  I admired the way the director for pushing the bar as high as possible.  The story attempts to surprise viewers with big reveals, but I never seemed surprised.  Most moments are rather obvious and predictable, but I still enjoyed seeing everything come together and unfold. Overall, Robert Eggers has made another stunning film.  This film is loaded with great visuals, including dream sequences and stunning landscapes.  The film itself is dark, violent, gritty and brutal, and I was rather entertained for the entire duration, even if some moments flew over my mind at first.  Aspects relating to the plot are slightly predictable, but I still smiled watching everything unfold from start to finish.  Performances are tremendous and can’t be faulted.  This feature won’t be for everyone, especially given the many disturbing unsettling moments.  Those familiar with the director’s craft and skill will know what to expect, and here the director is playing with a bigger budget than fans have experienced previously.  I found myself admiring this film, and its story had me by the veins; it’s a wonderful achievement! * This review has been written for Sanity. For more reviews from Walkden Entertainment, check out the link here: www.walkdenentertaint.com