The movie of the year? 10 reasons not to miss “The Northman” on HBO Max

It’s already streaming.”The Northman”, a film that reached theaters around the world in April of this year without the noise that the premieres of superhero sagas do, but that offers as much entertainment and action as any of those titles.

Without the clichés of the blockbusters, the story of “The Northman” stands out for offering a journey of just over two hours (but that flies by) in which we see a story of revenge with an unexpected ending (and many twists to the throughout the plot), but also impressive images and a very solvent cast headed by the Swede Alexander Skarsgård.

Skarsgård had spent a decade trying to make a film about a subject that is part of his Scandinavian origin: the Vikings, but which has not always been portrayed with the fidelity and historical respect it deserves. When he learned of the interest that director Robert Eggers had in this period, they began the project that is finally in theaters.

Although the tape had a cold reception in theaters, there are several reasons why this release is worth keeping in mind now that it is available for streaming on HBO max. Here we give you 10 reasons:

1. Action that catches

“The Northman” presents us with the story of Prince Amleth, who witnesses the murder of his father, King Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke), at the hands of his uncle, the bastard Fjölnir, who, in order to gain the crown, also orders the murder of the young Amleth and takes his mother, Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman), as a prisoner. Amleth flees and swears to return to exact revenge on him. The plot, as you can see, is that of a Hamlet, but a Viking. And it’s no coincidence because the British playwright is said to have inspired his famous work on this Scandinavian legend.

But the development of this premise is very different from what you can imagine. The film has a lot of rhythm, at times you feel like you are watching one of the bloodiest episodes of “Game of Thrones”, at others it is a zombie film and then it reminds you of Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator”. If you are looking for a good story, this movie will give it to you.

2. Visually stunning

This tape features beautiful photography by Jarin Blaschke, a regular Eggers collaborator.

The story is set in the early 10th century in Iceland, but was actually filmed in Northern Ireland and offers all the icy imagery this story requires. At times you will feel as small as the characters look before the imposing glaciers and mountains that we must travel accompanying Amleth on his mission.

3. A different portrait of the Vikings

The Vikings have inspired many highly successful fictions, such as the recent “Vikings” and “The Last Kingdom”, both available on Netflix, but both Eggers and Skarsgård wanted to make a production that was very respectful of history, while being innovative.

Although there are certain creative licenses (in some clothing, for example, which have been noted by some specialized youtubers in that period), “The Northman” will transport you to the year 900 AD and will allow you to feel what the world of the Vikings was like, especially, from a part that is not always addressed: his worldview, his connection with the supernatural and his poetry.

In fact, the script for “The Man from the North” was co-written between Eggers and the Icelandic poet Sjón and the film is divided into 5 chapters with cuts and transitions that make us wonder what really happens and what is part of a world of dream or magic

4. Shocking scenes

“The Northman” will leave several scenes etched in your memory. The impressive trip that Amleth makes to Iceland to recover his kingdom, where he must overcome a storm like Ulysses to see his family again. Or the battle he has with a zombie warrior to appropriate the sword draugr It will allow you to defeat your enemies. Also a bloody quidditch tournament in which the young prince is forced to participate, when he has not yet revealed his identity, but above all the final duel he will have with his uncle, played by the Danish Claes Bang. Sparkly!

5. Robert Eggers never disappoints

If you have seen “The Lighthouse” (2019) or “The Witch” (2015), you know that Robert Eggers is one of the most talented and imaginative young filmmakers today and it is very interesting to see him in a story as different as the one that proposes “The Northman”.

When you watch this tape, pay special attention to a sequence shot that occurs in the first few minutes of the film. The runaway prince is about to carry out an attack with other Vikings. Upon being discovered, a guard attacks Amleth with a spear that he stops in the air and begins a brilliant action scene that shows that we are dealing with a unique director.

6. The cast is great

The cast of this film definitely draws anyone’s attention: it has stars such as Ethan Hawke and Nicole Kidman, along with other great talents that have already become Eggers’ ‘fetishes’: the Argentine-born star Anya Taylor Joy , who starred in “The Witch”, and Willen Dafoe, who after “The Lighthouse”, will be the Nosferatu in the new version prepared by the young filmmaker.

A very revealing scene between Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgård deserves a special highlight, which will completely change the rhythm of the story and in which both actors show how they go from drama to hatred in a few seconds.

7. The transformation of Alexander Skarsgård

Whether you saw him in “True Blood”, “Big Little Lies” or “The Diary Of a Teenage Girl”, you will find that Alexander Skarsgård is always ready to offer different interpretations. And in the case of “The Northman” the actor assumes the challenge of a character that is not only emotionally complex, but also physically demanding.

To play Prince Amleth, who in his escape becomes a berserker (Viking warriors who fought half-naked), Skarsgård had to look almost like a werewolf and bear at the same time, so his training was even more demanding than the which he assumed for Tarzan. The curious thing is that the actor perfectly achieved this transformation, while at the same time the filming of the third season of “Succession” began. As he himself narrates, in the same week he played the richest man in the world and then returned to Iceland to fight in the mud and snow in complete darkness.

8. The return of Björk

Although her work as a musician has made her a legend, Icelandic Björk has had notable forays into film. The most remembered “Dancer in the Dark”. But since 2005, when she made “Drawing Restraint 9 ″ with her ex-partner, Matthew Barney, the pop star hadn’t made any film appearances. In “The Northman” we will see her in a small, but very important role in the development of the story: a seer who will prophesy her fate to Prince Amleth.

On her social networks, the composer expressed her satisfaction at seeing her roots “treated with imagination, intelligence and quality” in the cinema.

9. The soundtrack

“The Northman” is a journey of many emotions and these are brought to high levels of intensity in the movie theater thanks also to the soundtrack composed by the British Vessel and Robin Carolan, who collaborated with Björk on her album “Vulnicura”.

Here is a small preview of what you can enjoy at the cinema:

10. An original story

Finally, it should be noted that fewer and fewer productions of the dimensions of “The Northman” (which cost 90 million dollars to make) are betting on original stories.

In an industry that is taking more and more risks either for heroes or ‘remakes’, it is always refreshing to find titles like this one that, although they have very familiar ingredients, offer a different product full of imagination.

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