Introduction:
The Northman is a 2022 historical fiction action movie. It was released to United States audiences on April 22, 2022. The film starts with young Prince Amleth (Oscar Novak) greeting his father, King Aurvandil War-Raven (Ethan Hawke), who is returning from a successful raid. After the pair partake in a manhood ceremony run by the court jester, Heimer (Willem Dafoe), Aurvandil is beheaded by his bastard brother, Fjolnir the Brotherless (Claes Bang). Amleth runs for his life, escaping in the nick of time while Finnr the Nose-Stub (Eldar Skar) reports him dead to Fjolnir. While Amleth escapes on a boat, Fjolnir claims Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman), his brother's wife, for himself. Amleth swears his revenge, “I will avenge you father, I will save you mother, I will kill you Fjolnir.” We then meet a grown Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard), who returns home to his uncle to enact his revenge, assisted by Olga of the Birch Forest (Anya Taylor- Joy), his love interest and a Slavic witch. Be aware there are SPOILERS in the following review.
The Good:
I am a huge Shakespeare fan. For most of my childhood and teenage years, I had a continuing obsession with the performing arts and that bled into Shakespeare. Many don't know that the story of Prince Amleth was written by Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus and is the direct inspiration for Shakespeare's “Hamlet.” This film makes it obvious how Shakespeare was inspired by the story, as the entire film feels very Shakespearean. That is not a complaint at all: in fact it's a high praise. The Old English and historical location and behavior is perfectly implemented. It draws you into what the life of a Viking was like, which was not at all glamorous, but instead, a dirty, dangerous and violent lifestyle. People could go from ruling a small kingdom to a slave of another in a day. I am a very big fan of a good revenge story, as many people are. It’s a popular storyline, and especially in the U.S., westerns, thrillers and action films all love to revolve around this plot. A murdered spouse or parent is usually the catalyst and this movie proves that story has rung true for ages past. The music in this film is very unique, and I struggle to describe it. It was almost tribal and gothic and, again, really brought you into the world of the Vikings. While the film seems semi-marketed as an action flick, that is not the case. This is a revenge story, yes, but I would argue even more it is a tragedy. There are plenty of moments of action that I will touch on later, but a large portion of the movie is actually a discussion of destiny and love versus hate. I absolutely adored the deeper concept of kindness in response of evil. This was a struggle that Amleth had throughout the film. He felt like he needed to honor his oath and avenge his father, but at the same time, multiple characters asked him whether it was worth it, or if it would be the wiser decision to choose kindness and forgive. There is also a mythological component to the movie that I enjoyed. While not overbearing, there are obvious instances of superior hands at play in Amleth's life. I am a fan of mythology, and any inclusion of such things always peaks my interest. The setting of the movie is breathtakingly beautiful. There are multiple shots throughout Northern Ireland where I audibly commented to my wife that it was just “a beautiful place.” It truly makes you feel like you are in a place untouched by the modern world, where factions of Vikings still war over sheep and land. Now to touch on the clearly well choreographed action scenes: there are two scenes that stood out to me the most, though the others are nothing to complain about. The first is a game that Amleth plays against another farm, when pretending to be a slave, called Knattleikr. The game quickly turns violent, until the only people left on the field are Amleth and a hulking man. Of course, Amleth's half brother, unaware of who Amleth is, attempts to win the game, for his farm and Amleth is forced to save him in a brutal fashion. The other scene is the final scene of the movie, when Fjolnir and Amleth meet at the gates of Hel for a Holmgang, an ancient viking duel. I have one piece of warning about the fight, which I will touch on later, but for the most part the fight is incredibly entertaining while being deceptively simple. At first glance, it's two men wildly swinging swords at each other, but its deeper than that. While they duck and cower and block and feint, you see two men who have just as much justification in their own minds for the actions they are taking and have taken. Each one truly believes himself the hero in this story, and as they battle, it creates a complication for the viewer, who, while always on Amleth's side, begins to see the light side of Fjolnir and the dark side of Amleth. It's an interesting dichotomy that presents a conundrum for the viewer. Why is Amleth justified in his revenge but Fjolnir is not? It makes the reader question the justification of the entire revenge story. Ultimately, I found this movie not only incredibly entertaining, but also thought-provoking. It makes you question a lot about popularly accepted storylines, character development and character motivation. It's an epic flick that reminds the viewer of stories like “The Odyssey.”
The Bad:
I am a pretty big fan of Vikings and a big fan of stylized movies like The Northman. However, as is the case with all movies, there is no such thing as perfection. Firstly, as I said above, this is a very stylized film, and it will not be for everyone. The movie is marketed as an epic Viking action flick and it is to an extent. But some viewers may be confused by what the film is in actuality: an epic poem. As I said above, it's similar to “The Odyssey.” It's a romance story and a story of family not just a revenge flick. I don't necessarily consider this a bad thing, but others might, so I thought I should include it here. On top of that, while it is an artistic choice, the actors can be hard to understand due to the Old English and accents that are used.
The Ugly:
This film is not a film for children. It absolutely deserves its hard “R” rating. There are multiple violent scenes depicting mutilated bodies. There are a few scenes depicting what can only be described as horrific acts that Vikings would engage in, such as locking villagers in a building and burning it down. Finally, there is a decent amount of nudity in the movie. Only at one point is it in a sexual sense. However, viewers should be warned, the final fight scene is between two naked men. While it is filmed in a way to show as little as possible, it is still obvious the pair are not wearing clothes. If nudity makes you uncomfortable, this scene is something you should be more than aware of. There is also a bit of language, and I cannot stress enough the violent nature in some of the scenes. On top of all this, there is some discussion on sexual harassment and even rape throughout the film.
Conclusion:
The Northman is a dark, epic tale of revenge, love and family. It is entertaining and thought provoking without avoiding the dirty reality of the time it takes place. It shows the glamour but also the harsh reality of the lifestyle. It touches on beautiful concepts such as love, but also touches on the dark underbelly of those concepts, even making a foray into Oedipus territory. It shows how revenge can end up as nothing but an endless bloodbath, but also the sweet relief of revenge being enacted. It is an intensely complicated film, and I loved it. I highly recommend it for a film buff or for someone interested in a historical tale. I give it 8 out of 10 gator tails.