It’s a war epic of mammoth proportions (Image: Aiden Monaghan / Focus Features)
Fans of war films and period dramas steeped in history are in for a treat with this ‘epic cinematic masterpiece’ which has left critics and audiences bowled over — and if you’re into mythology, even better.
This 2022 Robert Eggers directorial is a dark fantasy period piece with buzzing, relentless action in spades. With a screenplay co-written by Eggers and Sjón, this Viking action drama is based on the Norse legend of Amleth, written by Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus. Interestingly, Amleth served as the direct inspiration for Shakespeare’s acclaimed play Hamlet.
With a star-studded cast featuring heavyweight film A-listers, this Norse mythology fantasy war epic has been hailed a must-watch by fans and critics alike.
The cast of this epic of mammoth proportions includes Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Gustav Lindh, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe, and filming took place in stunning locations in Iceland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
With a smashing 90% critics’ approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, The Northman is available to stream on Netflix.
The official plot of the film states: “The Northman is an epic revenge thriller that explores how far a Viking prince will go to seek justice for his murdered father.”
Speaking to Vanity Fair about why he chose to star in The Northman, Skarsgård shared: “I had this this dream of one day making a big, epic Viking movie, but based on an old Icelandic saga.”
Talking about director Eggers, the actor said: “I felt he would be a dream director for our Viking project. His attention to detail is just bar-none. It was absolutely extraordinary.”
Mounted on a budget of $70–90 million, the film underperformed at the box office, grossing around $70 million globally, however, it found itself on the receiving end of widespread critical acclaim.
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It stars Alexander Skarsgård in the lead (Image: Aiden Monaghan / Focus Features)
One critic said of the film: “Robert Eggers has crafted one for the ages… The Northman is a cinematic epic that blew my mind from start to finish. Lavishing cinematography that brings to life this era, visceral violence that adds to the world, & a jaw dropping third act.”
While another praised director Eggers and wrote: “Northman is one of Robert Egger best films. The scope, the scale, the atmospheric building of Norse mythology is groundbreaking. Along with some insanely well acted performances and beyond thrilling action and revenge based story. Must Watch Masterpiece!”
A third critic said of the epic period drama: “This brutally violent, yet soaringly lyrical action epic is quite unlike anything captured on screen before.”
Audience reviews follow in a similar vein, with one viewer writing: “Finally got around to watching this movie, and it is breathtaking! A beautiful exploration of accurate Norse history and culture, told through myth is a similar (though much better) way as Snyder’s movie 300. This movie gave me chills and had me holding my breath throughout.”
Anya Taylor-Joy has been praised for her performance in the film (Image: Aidan Monaghan / Focus Features)
They added: “Anya Taylor Joy is particularly powerful here and her speech in the old tongue brought tears to my eyes with the chills it gave me. I will always recommend this movie to people.”
Another fan commented: “Everything about this movie was amazing. From the acting to the immersive cinematography. It kept me hooked from beginning to end.”
While one happy viewer said: “Superb! Brilliant cast all excels in character. Very well written, amazing cinematography, breathtaking scenery and locations. LOTS of action, twists and turns and suspense. Very gripping and captivating”
The Northman is available to stream on Netflix.
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