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Movie Review: ‘The Northman’

Alexander Skarsgård stars as Amleth in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic ‘The Northman,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Aidan Monaghan / © 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

Opening in theaters on April 22nd is the new historical drama ‘The Northman,’ from ‘The Lighthouse’ director Robert Eggers. The movie stars Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, a Viking prince on a quest to avenge his father’s (Ethan Hawke) murder.

In addition to Skarsgård and Hawke, the film also features Anya Taylor-Joy (‘Last Night in Soho’), Claes Bang (‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’), Björk (‘Dancer in the Dark’), Willem Dafoe (‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’), and Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman (‘Aquaman’).

The result is an epic and ultra-realistic Viking movie that pulls influence from ‘Braveheart,’ ‘Spartacus,’ ‘Conan the Barbarian,’ and even William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet,’ and features a career-defining performance from Alexander Skarsgård.

The movie begins in 895 A.D. on the imaginary island of Hrafnsey where King Aurvandill (Hawke) is brutally murdered by his brother Fjölnir (Bang), while his son, a young Prince Amleth (Oscar Novak) watches in horror. Amleth barely escapes and is eventually discovered and raised by a band of Vikings, but vows to one day avenge his father’s murder and rescue his mother, Queen Gudrún (Kidman).

Nicole Kidman stars as Queen Gudrún in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic ‘The Northman,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Aidan Monaghan / © 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

Years later, an adult Amleth (Skarsgård) is told by a Seeress (Björk) that he will soon have his revenge on his uncle. He then learns that Fjölnir was overthrown from his kingdom, and now lives in exile in Iceland. Amleth disguises himself as a slave on a ship being taken to Fjölnir and soon meets Olga (Taylor-Joy), a sorceress who wants to help Amleth on his quest.

Once arriving in Iceland, Amleth learns that his mother has married Fjölnir and had their own son, Gunnar (Elliot Rose). Now, in order to avenge his father’s death, Amleth will have to search for the magic sword Draugr, if he wants to defeat Fjölnir and save his mother, Olga and the other slaves.

Coming off of his acclaimed films ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse,’ ‘The Northman’ solidifies director Robert Egger’s place as one of the most exciting and gifted filmmakers working today. The movie is large and epic in scope, but Eggers keeps it moving at a furious rate. The movie is dark, both physically and emotionally, extremely realistic and very bloody.

Eggers choice to shoot on location, and use practical effects when possible, adds to the realism and attitude of the piece. The film also has a magical aspect that is relayed quite well and seems very realistic, given the source material and its role in the overall story.

Ethan Hawke stars as King Aurvandil in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic ‘The Northman,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Aidan Monaghan / © 2022 Focus Features, LLC.

The supporting cast is strong, with quick but fun performance from Willem Dafoe and musician Björk. Ethan Hawke is excellent as King Aurvandill, even if his role is somewhat limited as well. Hawke really sets the tone and pace for the movie, and his performance is what puts Amleth’s journey in motion.

Danish actor Claes Bang gives a standout performance as the movie’s villain, Fjölnir. It’s a captivating and multi-layered role that the actor plays well, creating an antagonist worthy of the film’s hero.

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman is also at her best in this movie as Queen Gudrún. In contrast to her role as the hero’s mom in ‘Aquaman,’ playing Amleth’s mother is a much meatier role and is reflective of an actress of her caliber. With several twists and turns, Kidman is always regal in the part, and her performance really packs a punch when her character’s true intentions are eventually revealed.

Anya Taylor-Joy, who starred in Eggers first movie ‘The Witch,’ gives a mysterious yet vulnerable performance as Olga, despite her limited screen time, and has great chemistry with Skarsgård. Make no mistake, ‘The Northman’ is Amleth’s story, but the screenplay serves Olga well, making her an important key to Amleth’s success and his bloodline’s future. At times, her performance is overshadowed by the action of the story, but her character’s importance to Amleth and the plot is never forgotten.

(L to R) Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth and Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic ‘The Northman,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Aidan Monaghan / © 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

But like any good movie, ‘The Northman’ truly works as a whole only because of Alexander Skarsgård’s incredible, captivating, and thoroughly entertaining performance. I truly believe that this is the movie that will finally make the actor a household name, after roles in disappointing projects like ‘Battleship,’ ‘The Legend of Tarzan’ (which is actually a really good movie), and ‘Godzilla vs. Kong.’

As Amleth, Skarsgård is shockingly strong, both physically and in his performance, and commands the screen with urgency and excitement. He makes the movie work on every level and gives the best performance of his career.

In the end, fans of ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and other “sword and horse” projects will be happy with ‘The Northman,’ and even surprised at the dramatic levels the film reaches. Director Robert Eggers has established himself with this movie as one of the most exciting filmmakers working today, and Alexander Skarsgård’s performance is not only a personal best for the actor, but the best male performance of the year so far!

‘The Northman’ receives 5 out of 5 stars.

Alexander Skarsgård stars as Amleth in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic ‘The Northman,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Aidan Monaghan / © 2022 Focus Features, LLC.
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April 23, 2022
Alexander Skarsgård Talks ‘The Northman’

Alexander Skarsgård at the Los Angeles premiere of Focus Features’ ‘The Northman.’

Opening in theaters on April 22nd is the new historic action drama ‘The Northman,’ from ‘The Lighthouse’ director Robert Eggers.

The movie stars Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, a Viking prince on a quest to avenge his father’s (Ethan Hawke) murder.

In addition to Skarsgård and Hawke, the film also features Anya Taylor-Joy (‘Last Night in Soho’), Claes Bang (‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’), Bjork (‘Dancer in the Dark’), Willem Dafoe (‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’), and Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman (‘Aquaman’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Alexander Skarsgård about his work on ‘The Northman.’
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You can read our full interview with Alexander Skarsgård about ‘The Northman’ below or watch our interviews with Skarsgård and director Robert Eggers by clicking on the video player above.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay when you read it? What were your initial thoughts?

Alexander Skarsgård: I was very excited. I’d been part of the project from the very beginning, so it wasn’t like on most other movies, where you’re sent something and then you start reading it and you’re like, “Oh, this is the story. Okay.” I had met Rob five years ago when we started talking about teaming up and working on a Viking project together.

That was a real privilege to be part of the whole journey. Even before the first draft was done, to be able to have those creative conversations with Rob and with Sjón, his writing partner on the movie, I learned a lot from that. Again, it was a treat that you don’t always have, or very rarely get as an actor.

MF: Your director Robert Eggers mentioned to us that you were a Viking historian even before you signed on to this project. How did that knowledge help you prepare to play this role?

AS: Enthusiasm is very helpful in a creative process because it makes you go deeper and absorb it in a deeper way than if you’re not genuinely excited and thrilled about it. Again, a couple of years before meeting Rob, I had an idea of trying to make a Viking movie. The fact that it came together in this way with such an incredible filmmaker like Rob, I was really over the moon. I couldn’t wait to actually sink my teeth into the material and start working on it, and on the character, and start reading the old Icelandic sagas and books on Norse mythology by different historians and Viking scholars.

I had Neil Price‘s book, “Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings,” which was my go to source for any inspiration or knowledge about the life of a Viking, the world someone like Amleth would’ve existed in, and how he perceived the spiritual world around him, and the relationship he had to the gods. All that stuff was tremendously helpful again, in shaping the character.

MF: Finally, can you talk about working with Robert Eggers and watching him execute his unique vision for this movie?

AS: It’s imperative, and it is 100% historically accurate to Robert. Authenticity is crucial. He does a tremendous amount of research, and basically became a Viking scholar himself in doing research for the movie. He also had four or five Viking historians and archeologists working with him on the screenplay, and on building the sets in order for them to be 100% authentic.

It made my job quite easy as an actor. When you step onto a set that is 100% a Viking village, everything you’re surrounded by is authentic. The clothes you’re wearing are not even remotely anachronistic. Everything is authentic to the time and the place, and that was very helpful.

We wanted it to be a very visceral and an immersive experience for the audience. By throwing ourselves into the mud, literally, and being out there and not shooting it on a comfortable sound stage, but actually be out there in the elements, hopefully you can sense that or feel that when you watch the movie. That was at least the goal.

Alexander Skarsgård stars as Amleth in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic ‘The Northman,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Aidan Monaghan / © 2021 Focus Features, LLC.
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April 19, 2022
New Trailer for ‘The Northman’

Alexander Skarsgård stars as Amleth in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic ‘The Northman,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Aidan Monaghan / © 2022 Focus Features, LLC.

If you thought the ‘Thor’ movies or the small screen ‘Vikings’ series were the only place to see Norse stories brought to life, ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse’ director Robert Eggers’ latest would like to have a word. Or, more likely, scream in your face while dressed in animal skins before threatening you with an axe.

‘The Northman’ is the new movie from Eggers, and it stars Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, who at young age (played early on by Oscar Novak) sees his father murdered by his uncle, who carries his mother off and nearly succeeds in killing Amleth himself.

Yet the young warrior manages to escape and ends up living with a group of brutal Vikings. When he learns that he’ll have an opportunity to wreak vengeance on his uncle, he goes all-in on the mission.

Eggers has rounded up quite the cast for this one, with Ethan Hawke playing Amleth’s father, King Aurvandil War-Raven, who suffers a Boromir-like fate when his brother, Fjölnir the Brotherless, played by Denmark’s Claes Bang, decides to take a stab (and a slice) at the throne.

And with the throne also comes Amleth’s mother, Queen Gudrún, played by Nicole Kidman. And let’s not forget Eggers’ ‘Lighthouse’ star, Willem Dafoe, who here shows up as court jester/soothsayer Heimir the Fool, who helps guide Amleth on his path in more ways than one.

Dafoe isn’t the only Eggers veteran reuniting with the director – there’s also ‘The Witch’s Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays Olga of the Birch Forest, who becomes important to Amleth. And finally, there’s Icelandic music legend Björk, here playing a Seeress who dresses in weird clothing. Or, for her, a typical Wednesday.
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If the idea of a prince whose father is murdered and mother married by his uncle sounds familiar, that might be because Eggers and Icelandic author Sjón draw from the same Danish legends that inspired Shakespeare to write ‘Hamlet’. Yet even Shakespearian scholars would agree that the tale of the troubled Dane can’t match ‘The Northman’ for sheer brutality and gore.

From the looks of this trailer, Eggers has truly unleashed himself, upping the scale and scope of the story from his previous movies while never losing the careful curation of characters and allowing performances to breathe.

The new promo also shows off the staggering visuals of the movie, which switches between dark and moody and vibrant, fiery scenes without ever feeling like they clash. Violence is at the heart of the story here, but so too is mythology, Eggers seemingly unafraid to dive deep into religious battles and mystical imagery.

With luck, this will be something quite different from many of Skarsgård’s previous roles, and from what we can see here, he’s thrown himself into the part with gusto.

‘The Northman’ promises to be unlike most movies you’ll see this year, but it won’t be for the faint of heart.

If you want more from the director and others who worked on the film, you’ll also be glad to hear there’s an official podcast about it, which you can find here.

‘The Northman’ will open in theaters on April 22nd.

Ethan Hawke stars as King Aurvandil in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic ‘The Northman,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Aidan Monaghan / © 2021 Focus Features, LLC.
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April 13, 2022