Review: The Northman

A very beautiful, chilling, disturbing, violent, visceral revenge movie. 

The plot is based on a Scandinavian legend, which was the inspiration for the famous Shakespearean tragedy "Hamlet". The plot and it's premise are as simple as "The lion King", we follow the protagonist, Amleth, who had to flee after witnessing his father getting murdered and mother taken away by his own uncle. Vowed to seek retribution for the wrongdoings bestowed upon his family, the young Amleth grows into a iron willed,cold hearted berserker among the Vikings who goes around pillaging. Once learning about the whereabouts of his "enemy", he feels dutiful to follow his destiny to avenge his father's death. 

Shot with enough gore and blood thirsty and borderline immortality, capturing the essence of a time and  a world where death,duty, magic and fairies coexisted as much real in the minds of it's inhabitants. 

The visuals are breathtaking and aided by the surreal background score, it takes you to the world of the ancient times of the Vikings with probably the most closest to the accurate depiction of those times. 

It leaves enough to ponder on the themes of patriarchy and associated toxic masculinity, moral and immoral values depending on perceptions, love and revenge to be questioned and deconstructed. 

The performance of the cast involved are immaculate, especially of Alexander Skarsgard and Nicole Kidman. The stellar supporting cast involving Anya Taylor-Joy, Bjork, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Claes Bang makes it more memorable with their own stellar performances in whatever substance they're provided with. 

Worthy enough to get a nod for multiple Oscar nominations, the third directorial of Robert Eggers is a must watch masterpiece and a visual marvel which has many of his signature style stamped all over it to be the worthy follow ups to The Witch and The Lighthouse.