The Northman
Directed by Robert EggersPrince Amleth is on the verge of becoming a man when his father is brutally murdered by his uncle, who kidnaps the boy's mother. Two decades later, Amleth is now a Viking who's on a mission to save his mother, kill his uncle and avenge his father.
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The Northman Ratings & Reviews
- VilebloodDecember 19, 2025Kind of overrated, but still good. Willem Dafoe steals the show whenever he shows up as usual
- MikeOctober 11, 2024The Northman is an atmospherically captivating film, that not only transports the viewer into the Viking world, but also transports the strong emotions from the characters to the viewer "Your strength breaks men's bones. I have the cunning to break their minds." The Northman is not your typical type of action or revenge film. Instead it places the emphasis on the strong emotions and cultural elements of the Vikings. The film is not filled with continuous action sequences, but the action they do show, is absolutely brutal. This brutality isn't only showed by the fighting, but also the strong emotions and body language the characters show on screen. Combine this with the dynamic and engaging staging, that places the viewer right into the action, and you will literally feel the tension which gets your adrenaline flowing. This tension gets even further enhanced by the beautiful and exciting traditional Nordic folk score. The length they took in terms of authenticity is something worth mentioning. Everything in this film is historically accurate and believable. From the cultural elements like the rituals and mythology, to the clothing, jewelry, weaponry, houses, chairs and even the type of wood used to build the longships. The cinematography was very bold and impressive, which was a great contribution to the immersion. The use of desaturated colors, combined with the saturated colors of fire, felt gritty and beautifully visualized the brutality of the characters and the landscapes. Most of the scenes are shot with dynamic and engaging staging, and some scenes are even long takes, so the viewer is immersed into the action. But there are also specific scenes that are shot in an entirely different way. These scenes use a strong lighting contrast and a rule of thirds or golden section composition, combined with static framing and a centered composition, to visualize elements in an important and mythological way. Characters were also visualized by using static framing and a centered composition, in combination with them breaking the fourth wall, to create a strong presence and give the feeling they were speaking directly to the viewer. The rule of thirds composition, with the visual elements aligned at the lower thirds of the image, reminded me a lot of the beautiful cinematography of Lawrence of Arabia. This use of the rule of thirds composition beautifully shows openness and scale, within a minimalistic yet strong abstract visualization. It remains one of my favorite compositions I've seen in a film. Read full review at Letterboxd: Mike_v_E
- Richard Scott LongDecember 10, 2025What's the intrigue of these movies? What do people get out of them ? Someone actually says,"I cant wait until The Northman comes out!" To each his own☺️
- Kevin WardJuly 14, 2025The Northman is an epic revenge tale, bathed in blood and elevated with gorgeous cinematography. It’s a fairly straightforward story but it’s an absolutely exhilarating theatrical experience. Alexander Skarsgård is perfectly cast and gives one his best performances I’ve seen. Anya Taylor-Joy is similarly perfectly cast. Ethan Hawke is incredible and Willem Dafoe is delightfully weird as always. This film really is a sight to behold, from the aforementioned cinematography, to the action sequences and some dream sequences. The money spent is all magnificently visible on screen. It’s Eggers most accessible feature given it’s a simplistic narrative based on a story you’ve probably seen adapted more than a couple times. Still, this is the kind of film I absolutely love to sink into my seat in the theater and let it wash over me. Highly recommend you check this one out in the theater.
- KamtaotFebruary 9, 2025I couldn't digest this film at all.
- remiiDecember 9, 2025A revenge movie with a plot taken from the best Westerns shot with the obsession for details of Wes Anderson. It's gory, occult and brutal. A deep dive in the scandinavian landscape with a Shakespearean breeze. Anya Taylor Joy, the muse of the director is stunning.
- Tyler BrownNovember 27, 2025Amazing! Modern classic. I love this movie!
- jackmeatSeptember 2, 2025My quick rating - 6.9/10. Another flick I have been looking forward to. With all the hype, you would hope it would be worth it. Instead, I feel like I just watched this year's "Green Knight." OK, a better version of it. Another flick that has all the right aesthetics but flounders in a different spot. Still, let's talk about how this looks. It has every making of a quality epic flick. The scenery is perfect with sprawling shots of a foreign land. The acting is excellent from top to bottom with a well-picked cast. I think you can read the poster below and see that it is stacked with A-list talent. The story itself has a Viking feel to its slightly folk horror undertone. And it starts off with an opening that really drags you in with the prelude to what could have been, well, EPIC. Nice brutal touches when it is time to bring the violence, keep that Norse vibe to it. But after that initial spot, and a vicious battle scene, you meander along for like 90 minutes with a bunch of pointless scenes. I literally all of a sudden went, "Oh, that is why there is any story to this," since it had seemed to give up on that and just keep plodding along. Luckily, they did decide to bring the reins back in on the plot, though, since when it got back on track, it actually had something good to wrap up with. Unlike the previously mentioned movie, this one didn't end in some monotonous nothingness. This is the type of movie that you just don't expect to see too often, and the budget on it is surely up there. I revel in seeing studios taking some chances since I was a bit worried that it was going to be a couple of years before those wallets were open again. I have seen "masterpiece" thrown around, but I cannot say the same. I will say it is an entertaining flick for 2 of the 3 acts. And it is very unique from start to finish. Then again, Robert Eggers has already brought us 2 very original ideas before in The Lighthouse and The Witch, and if you have seen those, not only do you know what you are in for, but you will thoroughly enjoy it.
- Nick BOctober 12, 2025Bleak, primal, very bloody. Eggers uses his signature prowess in lighting and cinematography to bring the ancient tale of Amleth to life. The story is a bit slow in the middle, but it’s an excellent film overall and worth seeing as much as any other Eggers film.
- buford fernsbyApril 15, 2025literally live action vinland saga. fire music.
- 0 1September 29, 2025Visually, it's a stunning movie. excellent cinematography and revenge story.
- Mike MartinsSeptember 29, 2025⭐⭐⭐⭐ Robert Eggers’ The Northman is a brutal, visually striking Norse revenge epic that blends myth, history, and raw primal energy into a cinematic spectacle. The film follows Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) as he grows from a child prince into a warrior consumed by vengeance after his father’s murder. What really stands out is Eggers’ commitment to authenticity. From the eerie chants to the meticulous set design, you feel transported back to the harsh Viking age. The cinematography is jaw-dropping—volcanic landscapes, moonlit raids, and surreal visions blur the line between reality and myth. The cast delivers powerful performances, with Skarsgård embodying raw physicality, Anya Taylor-Joy providing mystery and hope, and Willem Dafoe stealing scenes with his unsettling shamanic presence. The film isn’t perfect—its relentless grimness and slower pacing in the middle may turn off mainstream audiences. But for fans of history-driven, atmospheric filmmaking, it’s a near-masterpiece. It doesn’t quite reach the universal accessibility of a blockbuster, but as a Viking saga, it’s one of the most immersive and ambitious ever put to screen. Verdict: A visually stunning and haunting revenge saga that mixes historical detail with mythic grandeur. Not for everyone, but unforgettable for those willing to take the ride. --- ⚔️ Hidden Trivia & “Did You Know?” Shakespeare Roots: The story is based on the legend of Amleth, a Scandinavian tale that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Eggers intentionally tied it back to the original saga. Authentic Language: Many lines are delivered in reconstructed Old Norse and Icelandic. Eggers hired historical linguists to ensure accuracy. The Berserker Ritual: The wolf-howling battle frenzy scene was inspired by archaeological descriptions of “berserkers,” Viking warriors who entered trance-like states before combat. On-Location Filming: Much of the film was shot in Iceland, chosen for its volcanic and otherworldly landscapes that matched Viking mythology. Physical Transformation: Skarsgård trained for years to bulk up, even practicing animalistic movements to embody Amleth’s primal rage. Nicole Kidman’s Twist: Her role as Queen Gudrún surprised audiences because her character’s arc flips traditional “motherly” expectations in myth
- cultfilmlikerJuly 31, 2025Robert Eggers’ Nordic John Wick Cool The VVitch prequel! Not really up my alley characters / time period wise but I couldn’t resist the Eggers aspect! Wasn’t super into it until the family dynamics part of the plot came into play. That sport scene was badass lol Phenomenal score / music
- Mister ArnMay 14, 2025"The Northman" sweeps you into a saga brimming with raw action and mysticism. Its striking visuals, compelling performances, and rhythmic flow transform this journey into a thoroughly engrossing experience. It's a tale delivered with masterful storytelling.
- Mojo NexusMarch 25, 2025Brutal, operatic, and visually hypnotic, The Northman is a powerful saga of vengeance and fate that balances arthouse style with primal action.
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The Northman Trivia
The Northman was released on April 13, 2022.
The Northman was directed by Robert Eggers.
The Northman has a runtime of 2 hr 17 min.
The Northman was produced by Robert Eggers, Alexander Skarsgård, Leifur B. Dagfinnsson, Lars Knudsen, Mark Huffam, Arnon Milchan.
The key characters in The Northman are Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman), Fjölnir the Brotherless (Claes Bang).
The Northman is rated R.
The Northman is a Drama, Action, Adventure film.
The Northman has an audience rating of 6.4 out of 10.