One of the more unexpected hits of 2022 so far is Robert Eggers' The Northman. Featuring an all-star cast headlined by Alexander Skarsgård, the movie is set in a grisly version of the Viking tale that inspired Hamlet. Having just been released, the movie has been acclaimed by viewers and critics alike, though it certainly has a bit of an acquired taste.
With more reviews rushing in, the general consensus on The Northman and why it's received its reviews can be more clearly ascertained. There's very little if anything major that's been hated by critics, giving the average Joe even more reason to see the film. Here's why critics can't seem to get enough of The Northman.
The Northman's Dark Tone Is a Highlight
Being based on familial revenge and never shying away from the grim realities of its time period, The Northman is far from a family-friendly, happy-go-lucky blockbuster. This works entirely in the movie's favor, giving it a feel evoking a most compelling type of carnage. According to Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian, "The Northman is a horribly violent, nihilistic and chaotic story about the endless cycle of violence, the choice between loving your friends and hating your enemies – which turns out to be no choice at all, and the thread of fate down which masculinity’s delicious toxin drips."
Gabriella Geisinger of Digital Spy felt much the same way, stating "As a viewer, this is an anxiety-inducing way to watch a film, but The Northman's lack of sensationalism allows you to meld into the world and observe, much like the gods who sit back and watch as mortals flail around in an attempt to fulfill their destinies, obey their fates." This bleak and nihilistic tone might not seem fun, but it's much of the reason why people are finding the film so engrossing.
Great Performances Carry The Northman
Even the most well-written movie would be nothing if the cast delivered their lines flatly. Thankfully, that's not the case in The Northman, wherein pretty much every actor brings a noticeably great performance to the table. This is no matter how big or small their role is, with even veritable cameos feeling like stand-out sequences. Nicole Kidman and Skarsgård are particularly praised, showcasing all of the sometimes horrific layers of their characters without falling into caricature.
Micah Simmons of The Exponent said:
"Skarsgård, also a producer on the film, really gives it his all, delivering a performance equal parts howling wolf and broken man trying to find his way back home again. Claes Bang matches Skarsgård in these categories, although is much more outwardly evil. Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”) turns in a great performance as Olga, a sorceress who becomes increasingly intertwined with Amleth’s revenge plot... Yes, both Willem Dafoe and Björk are only onscreen for long enough to have their roles basically count as cameos, but they both make great impressions in their screen time."
None of the performances are to the point of caricature, however. The actors' performances are so strong to almost make movie buffs forget who's on-screen, pulling them into the "reality" of the story being told. This adds depth to what could easily devolve into torture porn, turning the characters' pain and harsh actions into sequences with weight. According to Justin George of The Observer, "The world and characters are so vividly rendered by Eggers’ script, direction and production design that the audience feels like they are in Iceland watching a Viking version of “Game of Thrones” play out before their eyes." None of the major actors in the film are newbies or slouches, so decent performances were to be expected. Still, the way they masterfully bring the movie's world to life and avoid camp or scenery-chewing is exactly why cast members such as Dafoe and Kidman are being so highly praised.
The Northman Might Focus a Bit Too Much on Worldbuilding
The Northman has an acute sense of attention to detail, making sure that everything feels as close to history as possible. Thus, there are no horned helmets or any other such inaccuracies with the movie's Vikings. Even when fantasy elements and mythology are introduced, the movie still veers firm into a harsh reality, showcasing just how hopeless and futile life may have seemed. Unfortunately, this level of interest in bringing history to life is the film's main and perhaps only downfall. Some reviewers have noticed that in focusing so hard on these elements, the depth of the narrative itself becomes lost in the shuffle.
Richard Brody of The New Yorker highlighted this tunnel vision focus on the movie's accuracy and tone, saying, "With its prettification of the bodily world, “The Northman” offers no synesthesia, no evocation of any sense beside vision... For all the care the production lavishes on making costumes and weapons, on building huts and caves and rendering fire-lit interiors and their furnishings, the camera doesn’t linger on the objects, doesn’t give them texture or weight or temperature."
Robert Daniels of rogerebert.com also found the film thematically lacking, saying, "In that regard, “The Northman” often stumbles when it searches for profundity... The final showdown between Fjölnir and Amleth, in the mouth of a volcano, in fact, is somehow anti-climactic." Situations like this are an immediate pitfall when it comes to tirelessly recreating a different time, with plot and characters potentially taking a backseat to the world-building. This is the opposite problem with films such as The Last Duel, wherein the focus on the story was such a focus that horrific accents for the period were excused.
It's worth noting that these reviews are in the minority, with many finding the grisly revenge story, as well as its characters, to be perfectly fine. Of course, this may be due more to how well they're portrayed, so once the performances are looked past, it's possible that what's in the actual script is still lacking. Nevertheless, even with a few mixed reviews, The Northman is otherwise universally beloved. Given how different it feels from many, much lighter blockbusters, its current acclaim is certainly necessary for cinema.
The Northman is now playing in theaters.