The following may contain spoilers for The Northman.With his massively successful three feature films thus far,Robert Eggersis proving to be one of the most talented directors working today.The Witch(stylized asThe VVitch),premiering in 2015, is a secluded New England folktale centering on one family’s descent into the darkness of witchcraft and the occult during the Puritan era. This film was successful both critically and commercially, and also launched Anya Taylor-Joy into stardom.
Next, in his 2019 filmThe Lighthouse,Eggers cast two of the largest names in Hollywood (Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson), with his second film following their psychological and mythological discoveries whilst trapped in a lighthouse during a storm. This film’s technological feats combined old and new. Being filmed on a practical location, shot on black and white film and utilizing specs from the golden age of cinema, combined with today’s computer generated effects, the filmmaking style ofThe Lighthousewas a crucial advance in Eggers’ career.
Lastly and most recently,The Northman,in select theaters now, is Eggers’ largest in scale. The film tells the story of Amleth the Viking on a quest for vengeance in the form of blood. There are technological, psychological, and stylistic choices Eggers makes that puts this film on another level compared to his great previous work. Several elements ofThe Northmanbuild upon the talents he has established with his previous two features, however, the heart of all three films are the same. That heart is Eggers’ specific directing style and how unpredictable he can be in the best way possible. Along with many other factors, Eggers continues to make his mark on cinema and continues to grow in popularity in the eyes of audiences and critics, withThe Northmansignifying his continued advancement and success for a variety of reasons.
Dedication to the Setting
All three of Eggers’movies have maintained historical accuracy. Whether it’s the dialogue inThe VVitchor the practical locations inThe Lighthouse,he continues to immerse the audience into the world of his characters.The Northman,however, has done all three of these achievements. He maintains realistic Nordic dialogue, grounds the audience into the real settings with actual villages built for the film in Iceland, and usesATMOS sound designto really allow the viewers to feel as if they are in this world. Eggers also spent time reading Nordic material and having a Viking historian as a consultant on the film.
Seeing the Feeling
It is undisputed that all three of Eggers’ films have a unique style in their presentation. However, whatThe Northmanachieves is something even more grand. This film combines realistic Viking brutality with a bit of mysticism and spirituality. In a sequence early on in the film, we see how important the inner spirit and familial bond is to these characters. Through the beating heart, Eggers visualizes the spiritual moments with imagery that is quite magical. He takes his time to really allow audiences to see the feeling. Another example is the visualization of the euphoria of rising into Valhalla, or paradise. The way in which it is shown in this film is unlike any othermovie about Vikings, and it is so unique to Eggers and his unpredictable imagery.
Another aspect of his imagery, is that all Eggers’ films end with a final shot that looks as if it came right off of a canvas. From Anya Taylor-Joy rising into the darkness inThe VVitch,to Robert Pattinson’s unfortunate fate inThe Lighthouse.ButThe Northmanhas at least three of these shots that could be masterclass-level paintings that appear in a span of two minutes. The way Eggers ends this film is brilliant and, while it is brutal, it is also beautiful and poetic. It is his largest-scaled ending to date.
The Northmanis Eggers’ longest film compared to his previous, at two hours and seventeen minutes. It is also his most expensive, at $60 million, which is quite a jump from the $11 million budget inThe Lighthouseand the four million dollar budget inThe VVitch.This is also the biggest star-studded cast we have seen in Robert Eggers’ films. the cast includes Alexander Sharsgård, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, and both Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie (both of whom starred inThe VVitch). Eggers is building a team of actors he continues to work with, which is a characteristic of many successful directors today like Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, and Martin Scorsese.
Hungry Like the Wolf
The raw action sequencesand testosterone-filled rage in this film is indescribable. However, it is more than just screaming and killing; there is a reason behind it. That reason is maintaining the truthfulness of the time period. These Vikings were not all that grounded in morality, and some of them killed just because they could. Eggers does not shy away from that aspect of history. In addition to historical accuracy, there is also a jaw-dropping, nearly three minute sequence where a village is being raided by Sharsgård and his allies. It is made to look like one continuous shot, and it is perhaps one of the greatest pillaging sequences ever put on film.
The group of Vikings in this film often wear wolf’s skin, howl and growl at their enemies. The final sequence features two men in a quite brutal duel with no clothing on at all. This maintains that animalistic culture Eggers has preserved in this film.
The Perspective
The ongoing idea of this film is perspective and how one tragedy affects another. There are brutal acts of violence where one could understand how both the victim and the murderer got to that moment. In one sequence, where Sharsgård’s haunting scheme violently impacts another family, it could be debated on whether he is going too far. Hatred could be washed away by kindness towards your kin and your enemy’s kin; however, Sharsgård’s character is committed to achieving his goal. That goal is avenging his father, saving his mother and killing his uncle.
Another aspect of perspective could be viewed through the audience themselves. Eggers purposefully chose the story ofAmleth because it inspired Shakespeareto writeThe Tragedy of Hamlet,which later became the foundation for the Disney animated classicThe Lion King.Having a story built around societal familiarity can allow Eggers to do whatever he wants and allows room for play and fresh interpretations. There are many unexpected twists and turns inThe Northmanthat one must see (and appreciate in the theater) to believe.
