The Northman - The scoop and digest

Robert Eggers' longest to date is based on the Nordic legend of Amleth, the direct inspiration for Shakespeare's Hamlet.

And yeah, play is an anagram of source material.

Alexander Skarsgård - Amleth

Nicole Kidman - Queen Gudrún

Claes Bang - Fjölnir

Anya Taylor-Joy - Olga

Ethan Hawke - King Aurvandil

Björk - Seeress

Willem Dafoe - Heimir the Fool

Summary

In AD 895, a young Prince Amleth (Oscar Novak) watches uncle Fjölnir murder his father King Aurvandil, with Queen Gudrún apparently kidnapped.

Years later, Amleth leads a ruthless Viking horde on the Land of Rus. 

When our man is told by a Seeress that Fjölnir is in Iceland, protagonist smuggles himself aboard a slave ship.

Revenge mission start.

No-holds barred

First off, this wasn't as good as The Witch or The Lighthouse, because epic oddly plods.

However, outstanding cinematography, dense sound design and excellent performances from Skarsgård and Kidman rescues situation.

Having said that, there's a lot of 'shouting'.

Theme reflects True Blood, with title taking surname from Skarsgård's vampire Eric Northman.

Director's fascination with animals exuding magical properties continues, as instead of demonic goat and cursed seagull, we get wolf cubs and ravens. 

Bloody mayhem is prevalent throughout, but Revenge of the Sith-esque showdown at The Gates of Hel was a bit silly.

On a more sinister note, I noted stark similarities to John Boorman's classic Excalibur.

Aurvandil's ambush, sorcery, imagery and bizarrely, a forest sex scene.

Intentional?

That's for filmmakers to know and for us to unlikely ever find out.