Review | The Northman movie review: Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy in blood-soaked Viking epic by The Lighthouse director Robert Eggers
- As a boy, Viking prince Amleth sees his father’s murder at the hands of his uncle and determines to avenge it. So begins the new film by The Lighthouse director
- Alexander Skarsgard gives a full-blooded performance as the adult Amleth, who’s helped by Anya Taylor-Joy’s Olga. Eggers makes full use of a brooding landscape
4/5 stars
With just two films, The Witch and The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers has established himself as one of America’s must-see auteurs. The Northman, a US$70 million Viking movie, will probably further his reputation as an ambitious filmmaker keen to get his vision on the screen whatever the cost.
A full-blooded tale of retribution, this will appeal to all those who sat through Gladiator and marvelled at Russell Crowe’s heroic bloodletting.
A resourceful, brave child, he barely escapes with his life, having slit the nose of one assailant. Sailing away, he yells over and over: “I will avenge you father, I will save you mother. I will kill you Fjölnir.”
Years later, as the story lurches into the early 10th century, Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard) still harbours feelings of vengeance, plotting to kill Fjölnir and retrieve his mother (Nicole Kidman), who is now by his murderous uncle’s side.
