Every so often a film comes along that captivates you, gets under your skin and haunts you. With it’s primal, brutal, visceral intensity, Robert Eggers’ The Northman, is one such film.

While narrative inspiration is taken from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Eggers unapologetically leans into the world of Norse mythology, as protagonist Amleth, played by Alexander Skarsgard, sets out to avenge his father, save his mother and kill his uncle!

From his transition to manhood, to learning of his fate, Amleth’s interactions with the Gods and participation in sacred rituals are an assault on the senses. Eggers draws the camera in close, whipping it round to build the sense of dislocation and connection to the other world that Amleth feels during each stage of his journey. A sense further enhanced by the use of atmospheric music and the contrast between dark locations and bright flames.

An early action sequence, filmed in Ireland, that sees the Northman invade a Rus village perhaps best demonstrates these physical conditions, as the one shot camera set up tracks Amleth from the forest, over the gates and through the mud filled streets as he fights his way to the heart of the village.

Known for creating physically challenging sets for his cast, Eggers puts Iceland’s harsh landscape to brilliant use. Wide shots of it’s vast horizons and empty spaces serve to highlight the vulnerability of the characters and emphasise the brutality of what they must endure.

Despite the tough conditions, the cast rises to the challenge. Nicole Kidman delivers a trademark performance as Queen Gudrun, while Anya Taylor-Joy gives a powerful performance as Olga, both as Amleth’s love interest and as a force in her own right.

Yet, it is Alexander Skarsgard who shines, begging the question, why has it taken this long for him to play a Viking? Perhaps the right project hadn’t come his way, or he was happy to leave the Norse world to his older brother Gustaf, who memorably played Loki in History’s Vikings.

Regardless of why it took so long, Alexander Skarsgard ably demonstrates his leading man qualities as the titular Northman. No easy task when playing a character set on revenge who already believes himself to be dead. Despite this Alexander Skarsgard manages to give Amleth a depth of humanity that grows through the course of the film, allowing the audience to connect with him, without losing the primal, animalistic elements that are so vital to the character.

While historians specialising in Northmen might question the accuracy of Egger’s film (at least there are no horned helmets in sight), it is the utilisation of the myths and legends that surround Vikings that make this film such a resounding success. The journey into mysticism contrasted with such a brutal reality captivates the audience and Eggers holds them firmly in his grasp until the credits roll.

Eggers’ previous work has won many plaudits and there is no doubt that his latest cinematic outing is already following suit, while cementing Alexander Skarsgard’s position as one of cinema’s most intriguing leading men.

Be prepared for an assault on your senses, but The Northman a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen.

E