The Northman
Focus FeaturesIn The Northman, visionary director Robert Eggers tackles a familiar tale of revenge with a Viking twist. Throughout The Northman’s press tour, Eggers has touted his dedication to historical accuracy in the film and claims that he sought to make “the definitive Viking movie.” Part William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and part History Channel’s Vikings, Eggers does just that: creating a true Viking epic.
The Northman begins in 895 A.D. with the young Prince Amleth (Oscar Novak) learning to rule the kingdom from his beloved father King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke). Eggers takes the time to establish the key father-son relationship, showing everything from the loving bear hugs as Aurvandill returns home from raiding to Aurvandill and Heimir (Willem Dafoe) engaging Amleth in a Viking ritual. It is King Aurvandill’s untimely murder at the hands of his brother Fjölnir (Claes Bang) that fuels the adult Amleth’s (Alexander Skarsgård) quest for vengeance, as the young Amleth helplessly watched Fjölnir and his followers ambush his father before kidnapping his mother Gudrún (Nicole Kidman).
As a grown man, Amleth – having left his home Icelandic village to avoid being killed by Fjölnir as well – has become a Berserker – a specific type of Viking known for their animalistic savagery and dedicated worship to the Norse god Odin. Upon raiding the Land of the Rus, Amleth meets and quickly falls in love with Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), finally deciding it is time to avenge his father Aurvandill and take his rightful place as king. He cuts off his hair and poses as a Rus slave to get close to Fjölnir who buys slaves from the berserkers. From here, The Northman delves into a mystical slow-burn, the tension slowly rising as the film pushes on until there is no turning back for Amleth.
It is clear from the onset of The Northman that the film’s script is incredibly well-researched. While some dialogue feels stilted, Eggers and co-writer Sjon – the poet who previously worked on the Icelandic folktale film Lamb – ensure that the idioms and phrases used reflect their 10th-century medieval setting. Everything from the sweeping Icelandic landscapes to the Rus villages to the Viking wardrobes is deliciously authentic, immersing the viewer in this Viking saga. Cinematographer and past Eggers-collaborator Jarin Blaschke brings these stunning visuals to life, while Eggers made use of his largest film budget to date to meticulously craft this Viking world, as the film – though grounded in reality – also makes use of Norse rituals and mythology. The score and sound of The Northman further add to its world-building, as it perfectly captures the chilling Viking culture.
It is well-known that test audiences complained that The Northman was inaccessible and could only be understood by those with a Master’s degree in Medieval History, yet this simply is not the case. While the average viewer may not fully grasp the gravity of seers, Odin, or Valkyries, Eggers dedicates the time to these scenes to show the viewer how important such rituals are to Viking culture. It is these visions that push Amleth to continue his quest to avenge his family. When Amleth sees Odin and his ravens, he knows it is finally time to act. When Amleth is saved by a Valkyrie he understands that he is saved because he cannot die until he carries out his life’s mission.
While Amleth is the protagonist of The Northman, his story is far from a hero’s journey. Amleth’s sole purpose is to avenge his father, save his mother, and kill Fjölnir. Though he briefly gets distracted by Anya Taylor-Joy’s Olga, she also pushes him towards his thirst for revenge. Amleth’s obsession with revenge grows throughout The Northman as he waits for the opportune time to kill Fjölnir. In this way, Amleth is the quintessential Viking, as he follows the visions from the seers and his own visions of the god Odin and his ravens. Amleth knows that to be a true Viking is the die in battle and enter Valhalla, and through his ferocious quest, this is what he aspires to achieve.
There is a gruelling physicality in The Northman that further brings the audience into understanding the cold and unrelenting culture of these Icelandic Vikings. Some of the film’s best scenes come from its long choreographed shots of crowded fighting and raids, though a lot of the violence is unexpectedly muted for an Eggers film. There is some brutal gore while other times it is cut away, only implying that someone was stabbed through the heart or decapitated. The Northman remains ferocious just like Amleth’s character: he is brutal in every battle from the incredible berserker raid to the final sword fight in a swelling volcano.
Alexander Skarsgård plays Amleth incredibly, tearing away from everyone else. Amleth’s sole goal is the film’s sole focus, and Skarsgård captures his ceaseless motivations with grim and stoicism. With Amleth being the protagonist, each key actor in the film also strives to make Amleth’s revenge the most important thing in the film. Anya Taylor-Joy’s Olga rallies behind Amleth, aiding him in every way. While those who stand in his way like Claes Bang’s Fjölnir rage at Amelth’s quest. Later on in the film, Nicole Kidman’s Gudrún brings all eyes to her as she meets her grown son for the first time.
While it is clear that some studio interference dampened Eggers' vision, there is still the Eggers touch all over the film. The dedication to historical accuracy is greatly respected and appreciated, while the balance between Amleth’s reality and the Norse mysticism is simply brilliant. All in all, Robert Eggers succeeds in crafting The Northman to be the definitive Viking epic.