Robert Eggers has quickly become one of my favorite directors in such a short amount of time. After admittedly feeling somewhat lukewarm after my initial viewing of The Witch, I really began to see his immersive attention to detail, storytelling, and knack for haunting imagery upon repeat viewings. Then when The Lighthouse slithered along, it completely won me over from top to bottom, becoming one of my favorite films of all time. The performances, cinematography, sound design, setting, and framing all blended together to create a beautiful amalgamation of drunken spiraling insanity that promptly mesmerized me. Being two for two in my book for major releases, I only had overwhelmingly positive expectations for his newest outing in The Northman, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy; and if nothing else came of this film for me, I knew I could at least expect a very distinct vision from Eggers.

Coming from an old Norse tale, from which Hamlet was inspired, The Northman combines the best of both worlds, interweaving a grisly big budget revenge epic with the methodically paced narrative and stunning visual storytelling of an arthouse film, which is sure to garner a more mainstream movie audience. This film presents something a little more tangible than the ambiguity of The Lighthouse but doesn’t sacrifice the ethereal and mystical elements that add a richness to whatever world Eggers sinks into. The imagery explored in this film, practical or otherwise, exudes a visceral identity equal parts grandiose and intimate, with settings ranging from the striking open landscapes of Ireland and Iceland to the secluded firelit village interiors.

Also sporting a much larger cast with veteran actors like Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, and Ethan Hawke, it’s able to convincingly immerse us in this world with simple but discernible characters, who just happen to gutturally scream a lot and occasionally howl while having mystical fever dreams of destiny and death. Though the film asks us to follow Skarsgård’s Amleth in his rage-filled crusade, the brutal reality of Vikings conveyed is one with a muddled definition of good and evil, without protagonists and antagonists, just cruelty, love, violence, ambition, and revenge. I can say without hesitation that everyone gives a fantastic performance for however long they are onscreen, with the burden of the film resting on Alexander Skarsgård’s shoulders, navigating outward from his anger to exhibit turmoil, pain, despondence, and a tenderness with Anya Taylor-Joy’s Olga.

I found the film to be well-paced for its length with only a few moments throughout that seemed to drag, however each scene always felt purposeful in acquiring character insight or setting up plot events, even if longwinded at times. The set design and costuming felt authentic, creating a realistic atmosphere along with the intense drum heavy music that effectively heightened the emotion of every scene. The action while not too technical is very practical and satisfying in its ruthlessness and disposition for gore. Where the film slightly falters for me is in its plot, utilizing a well-worn story that we’ve seen so many times before. In comparison to his other films, this one seems limited in its narrative structure by providing a very predictable experience that does great in its execution but feels all too familiar as a revenge tale. It does offer very memorable sequences full of incredible cinematography that inspires both irreverent chaos and soothing symmetry to strike a perfect balance, but the film’s potential can feel a bit stifled by its adherence to a traditional form. However, that minor drawback is not nearly enough for someone to dismiss this film, especially for what it offers in all other regards. For me personally, it only falls behind his previous films because I prefer the unpredictable nature and isolated experience that leaves things more ambiguous. I think The Northman is an excellent film that will please audiences of all types and I would definitely recommend the theater experience for this well-made and engaging action-adventure thriller.