The Northman - We Need More Movies Like This 

The Northman is the only movie this year where you’ll see two Vikings battle it out, butt-ass naked, while surrounded by lava.

As soon as the "professional" critics criticized it for "toxic masculinity" I put it on my "To be watched in theatres" list.

Ethan Hawke is a woefully under appreciated actor. Has massively improved with age

Yes, this is the most historically accurate depiction of Norse culture ever put to film and was designed to be that way, the director actually changed the film slightly multiple times to accommodate what the historical expert was telling him

I like how eggers made NO attempts of ever trying to make any of these characters relatable, instead he forces you into a journey to understand their mindset

A movie that tells a good story, has great characters and respects the lore/history…sign me up.

Spot on!! But you didn’t even mention William Dafoe’s short but creepy-awesome performance!

That part where he catches the spear and throws it back, has got to be one of the most primal things I've ever watched on film. You really felt like you were watching barbarians attack a town. It was also a trick that real vikings would do in order to gain prestige

My favorite thing about this movie is that they didn’t try to add heroic traits to Amleth, he was out for vengeance and butchers countless people to get it. The tragedy is he’s a giant Viking Berserker made out of nuclear hot rage who only knows his anger and even when he has the opportunity to live in relative peace he can’t give up his vengeance.

This movie is actually based on real Scandinavian history/folklore, which also later became the template inspiration behind William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

I remembered watching this in the cinema it was such a satisfying cinema experience. The volcano fight at the end was so memorable, dark, brutal and nihilistic. Two men who took everything from each other killing one another with nothing but death as an empty prize.

The scenes with the Valkyrie are some of the most beautiful/artistic scenes I have ever seen in any movie and they make the mythological character believable as an immortal deity-like being without being over the top, I really loved this movie.

What I love about Eggers' work isn't just how he captures the look of historical times, but the mindset. People didn't just talk and dress differently back then, they THOUGHT differently. Their values and morals weren't just different, but utterly alien to anything we'd recognize today. People inhabited worlds that were smaller, more dangerous, and more incomprehensible than the ones we inhabit today. Things that we explain with modern science were back then rationalized as the work of spirits and gods that were temperamental and lurking behind everything.

Just saw the Northman with a friend and this was my first Robert Eggers movie. My buddy that I saw it with is a huge fan. I wasn't sure about this movie but I got sucked in immediately. This is the first movie in a while where I was fully immersed. Even the weirder elements felt real. At no point was I pulled out of the movie or even feel like I was "watching" a movie. Instead I felt fully immersed in this world and when the screen went black I looked at my friend saying "that was awesome!". We need more movies like this.

One of the best things about this film is that it wasn't fantasy, but the surreal and otherworldly scenes were actually a peek into the mindsets and experiences of the characters. And for them, there wasn't such a clear distinction between fantasy and reality that we have in the post-enlightenment era. These hallucinogenic and transcendent experiences were as real as anything for the characters, and so it's presented that way to the audience. The visions Amleth has (drug-induced or otherwise) were a fundamental part of how people in those times expeienced and understood themselves, others and the world around them. And Eggers lets us experience that first hand.

So few movies where scenes actually make your jaw drop -- this is one of them. Truly amazing piece of work. Eggers is fantastic. The Witch. Lighthouse. The Northman. Jesus, there's something to put on your resume.

When his "go away now" sounds like a friendly uncle encouraging the kids to go outside and play, you know this movie is good

Between this and Dune, it's so refreshing to experience big budget, epic films that aren't just an endless conveyor belt of cgi action sequences, but are instead thoughtful visual journeys that immerse you in whole new worlds lovingly crafted down to the smallest detail.

why is no one talking about how good the soundtrack was for this movie!? All the deep bass throat singing, etc. Such an important part of the experience of the film.

I had mixed emotions on this movie at first. But compared to the absolute shit Hollywood has been putting out. The Northman is an absolute masterpiece of cinema.

There's a making of video where Willem Dafoe comments about how Eggers approached The Northman with the same level of detail as The Lighthouse despite it being a profoundly larger production. Eggers himself comments on how the production crew had to basically ignore everything about viking culture in popular culture, films, TV shows, etc, and instead look at museums because he didn't want stuff that looked 'cool', he wanted stuff that looked as authentic as possible with the budget he had. Also the score and sound design for this is phenomenal, it's a rare example of a 'cinematic film', something that is definitely best experienced in a cinema where you can feel the bass rumbling around you.

The lighthouse was a masterpiece. The northman is Robert eggers going bigger and more ambitious with his style. Good to know people are appreciating movies like this

I'm honored to have witnessed this masterpiece on the big screen! Definitely was overlooked, don't sleep on this film peeps.

I really liked that they did a good job at telling a very historically accurate film about a story that is grounded in Norse mythology pretty well. They even resisted doubling down on the classic Hollywood love story that viewers love so much in exchange for a tale that stayed true to the Norse virtue of dying well. My biggest complaint with the film was the flattening of the supernatural it engaged in. The Drinker claims that the film remains unclear about whether what is happening is supernatural or not, but I disagree. Every major scene that had some supernatural element critical to the plot was (sometimes immediately) followed up by another scene that proved that it wasn't all happening for real. For instance, Amleth gets saved by some crows from a fatal situation in one scene, only for the audience to discover that he was actually saved by another character. In another scene he battles an undead villain just moments before it's revealed that the battle never actually happened and it was all in his head. Admittedly, other parts of the film seemed to engage in some supernatural activity that wasn't watered down. Like when one character seems to be control the wind by prayers to the nature gods, and a couple times where Amleth has visions that influence his decisions in important ways. But none of these seem particularly important to the plot. Even Amleth's obsession with fate is made somewhat irrelevant by the main plot twist. Heck, Amleth's sabotage of Fjolnir - one of the most significant sections of the film - involves Amleth causing mayhem within Fjolnir's settlement in natural albeit clever ways while the people constantly suspect that the mayhem is being caused by demons and the gods. The movie almost seems to be mocking religious belief at this point as mere fanciful superstition, only to tease the value of such beliefs within Amleth's character himself, especially regarding prophecy. It's a weird synthesis where the supernatural is valued only at the psychological level, but never to such an extent as to entail real-world meaningful consequences.

A movie that "just wants to tell a good story"? Heresy! On a happier note, I finally got my Critical Drinker Plushie. It's perfect.

It's really sad we live in a time where an enjoyable movie like this is the exception, not the rule.

Very good film. Looks incredible in person and the moral ambiguity of the plot makes it a fine art.

A minor correction: The Lighthouse was not inspired by vintage movies from the 50s. The style Eggers was trying to emulate with that film is german expressionism (1920s).

“It’s amazing in this time of all this Marvel nonsense, we were able to make a strange and original movie about Vikings that wasn’t based off an already existing IP or sequel.” - Eggers

The mere fact that the director didn't attempt to "diversify" the movie or push "the message" was enough to win me over from the beginning.

The Northman was a great movie. Had magical moments that you're not quite sure of it is all in his head. Awesome movie. Truly fantastic.

anyone who enjoyed this movie and would give anime a chance should totally try watching vinland saga. 10/10 would recommend

I left the theater thinking, “So, this is what film craft is. This is what you get when a creator cares about the art of film making and nothing more.” And for a moment, however brief, all of the bull shit politics and insanity was erased from the world.

Honestly a masterpiece, not since Kubrick have we had a director that cares so much about details and accuracy and research, and it shows. He's made 3 superb movies and he's not even in his 40s yet, I just hope he gets to continue to evolve and perfect his visions without having to comply or bend to dipshit studios aiming for the lowest common denominator.

While the story didn’t grab me like it did most of you, I have to say this was one of the best looking films I’ve seen in a long while that didn’t rely on much of any CGI trickery. Eggers is a tour-de-force and, while The Northman isn’t a film I feel compelled to watch over and over (a lot like The Lighthouse), I’m glad I watched it and will be watching his career with great interest.

This movie is a masterpiece! And probably the only movie that truly felt Norse to me, in feeling and mood, showing a more realistic view of that time period, but even more so getting into the mindset of people who believed their mythology was real and not fantasy, how it moved and motivated them. The cinematography was absolutely stunning and breathtaking, with an incredible cast. Robert Eggers is fast becoming one of my favorite film makers. We definitely need more movies and film makers like this!

Loved that a lot of the shots are long and uncut, refreshing from seeing movies overly edited, cutting between 50 different angles every 3 seconds.

Eggers is one of those increasingly rare directors who fully understands that movie making is VISUAL story telling. A lot of 'The Northman' is simply immersive world building, time taken to transport you back in time so you can lose yourself in the setting. It's not really critically important to moving the plot, but it makes the movie better than the sum of it's parts, so it's also not wasted time. It was the same with 'the lighthouse', which wasn't an overly complicated plot but the look and tone of the movie helped give the plot impact. Many other directors these days from the the 'JJ school' of packing everything single minute of screen times with just stuff going on as if they're afraid 30 seconds of just admiring the scenery is enough for the entire audience to up and leave, which leads to ever more convoluted plots or actual wasted time as characters do nothing of any importance just to provide white noise There is nothing wrong with minimalism, or retreading age old ideas in interesting ways. There are very few original stories left to tell, and the really good storytellers are the ones who know the devil is in the details.... not the quantity. A simple story told well will stand the test of time, and movies like 'The Northman' will be remembered long after most of it's contemporaries are simply forgotten.

One of the best movies I've watched in a long time. Glad to see the Norse mythology depicted with full expression

The volcano fight scene, while silly was amazing.

You see, everytime someone like us Scandinavians are doing the acting for a movie about Scandinavian history and folklore it ends up perfectly.

Years ago, my dad took me to see the movie Gladiator in the theater. To this day, it is one of my favorite films as well as one of my favorite movie-going experiences. Hearing all the positive feedback, I decided to invite my dad to go see the film as his birthday is coming up. He rarely sees movies anymore but if the Northman is as good as people say, it will be a good film with a great memory attached.

i did worry about his girl left on a boat for weeks though, they did say it was a three week journey and he left, dived back to the coast. personally i wouldnt leave my gf with some grotty sailors

If you want more films like this, make sure you support this one.

It was refreshing seeing a movie like this, one that isn't about "the message" and focuses on a good story, characters and historic realism.

I'm surprised that you didn't mention that this was an interpretation of actual Nordic folklore/history. It was reapeated orally via epic poetry from the 900s onward, partly recorded by Saxo Grammaticus via manuscript, and was the inspiration by Shakespeare to write 'Hamlet'. This is a true treasure of historical myth into cinema, and it was fucking epic. One of the true modern treasures of European cinema recalling ancient tales. Way better than Hollywood's Beowulf.

Makes me want to go to Sweden and have a slice of Tunnbröd

I feel like the only reason people are raving about this movie is because Hollywood has been pumping out so much crap for so long. It was ok. 6-7/10 for me. My feeling at the end was “wow. What an utterly purposeless life to live.” and in the same way I left feeling like nothing had really been accomplished.

I loved how they didn't shy away from showing how brutal the times and culture of the Vikings were. You see them gleefully killing women and children and sacking villages - because that is a big part of what Vikings did.

Honestly Mr. Eggers is slowly becoming one of my new favorite film makers since he isn't afraid to take chances.

The best movie I’ve seen this year. Waited to watch this review until I saw it. Watched it a couple days ago and it blew me away. Robert Eggers is definitely one of the best directors of our time and I can’t wait to see what he does next.

That space alien line caught me off guard 😂

The visuals were breathtaking, the characters were nuanced. This wasn’t a heroic tale, and the movie made it clear from the moment we saw Amleth as an adult. And the understanding how Fjolnir was no longer any kind of king, just a man merely hanging on to what is left of his loyal followers, and family, just sunk that point in further. It was uncomfortable at times, but damn if it wasn’t completely compelling! It was a gem in this creatively dry time for movies.

I was about an hour into this movie when it suddenly dawned on my that there wasn't one single bend of the knee to modern-day culture and the gods of "diversity". And I actually grinned; right there in the cinema. Thank you Robert Eggers. Thank you for just making a very good film, without any politics or gratuitous amounts of genuflecting to the gods of woke.

I eagerly anticipated this film from its announcement but unfortunately didn't get a chance to see it in theatres. I just watched it yesterday on blu ray and god damn it was worth the wait. Incredibly well made and performed. I really hope that the box office performance doesn't hurt Robert Eggers career as he is exactly the type of director we so badly need right now.

It’s interesting to me how Vinland saga and this movie the main character shares a backstory that are very similar. Both on the quest for vengeance for their fathers and growing up in war pillaging and raiding. Opportunities to leave the life to peace but choosing to stay in their path for their quest of vengeance.

Skarsgård wanted to make a Viking film for a while and it shows in his very committed performance. Eggers was the right man for the job and I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't all in Old Norse like he wanted, but this was a visually arresting film that completely engrosses you in the world it sets up from the moment it starts with an erupting Hekla. It's entirely alien to today's modern values, and yet has a timeless familiarity that coincides with the twist at the end of Act II, making you question if you should even be rooting for Amleth at all. It's morally grey done very right while still cherishing the values and rituals the people of that time held dear. Despite all the fever dream sequences of spiritual enlightenment and rage, this is the most realistic film I've seen in a while. Eggers' signature in his three films seems to be meshing reality and the protagonist's own POV, which may or may not be hallucinatory or spiritual in nature, and ultimately comes to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter if it was real or not; as long as it affects the characters, it might as well be real. He did it in The VVitch, he did it in The Lighthouse and he does it in The Northman. It is uncompromising in its vision and accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do with no frills and modern baggage attached. I honestly would love Eggers to do a biopic on Shaka Zulu all in the Zulu language (and the other Bantu tribes he conquered) as he seems to be the king of highly immersive period pieces with very high fidelity. I know it would be amazing. But because of the color of his skin, he wouldn't be "allowed" to and that's a shame.

Was hoping he’d give this exposure. The soundtrack was also insanely good. Saw it in a Dolby cinema theater. Was insane

I’ve lost count as to how many times I’ve seen this movie. It will forever be on my top movies list to continue to watch before I die.

I watched this in theaters with my dad and it was awesome

what a crazy time we live in where movies about superheros who can literally do anything and bend the forces of reality to their will are boring and a film about vikings is imaginative😂

I remember reading an article defending the Eternals. The writer said the people giving it negative reviews missed the point and it was good. He didn't mention plot, character development or anything. All he mentioned was representation. He never answered the question, "Is the story good?" It's good to hear that our entertainment industry can still put out a compelling story on rare occasions. I wasn't really interested in this movie because I think the viking thing is kind of played out. This review changed my mind. I might go ahead and see it in the theater.

A movie where all the actors did there part superbly even all the minor roles had gravitas moments on screen that felt powerfully cinematic

I thought it was a bit weird sometimes but still really good. A breath of fresh air really. Good that it's not like all the others. And yeah the actors where all great 👍🏼

I can't wait to see his take on the vampire. Hoping he'll take them back to the terrifying, hideous monsters they were at the start.

The Northman proves that good cinema can be as simple as having a half decent creative idea and the skills to use a camera right

One of my favorite movies of all time, and to debut in a time when we needed this movie the most.

Love how the valkyrie was depicted in the film. Not some pretty damsel but a fierce worrier willing to take ones soul to Valhalla

‘The Witch’ by the same director is also definitely worth a watch! Less action, but similar artistic / dark style

Something to also keep in mind specifically about norsemen and their Berserker traditions, is that prior to going to battle, they would typically partake in the consumption of various mushrooms and other substances that would put them partially in a hallucinating trance, to blur the difference of their mind and reality to keep them fighting harder and believe themselves to be supernatural in their abilities - which they generally then turned out to become as a result (as in being able to overcome natural bodily functions and limitations and thus perform feats that would otherwise be impossible for a regular soldier to do. So the whole idea of hallucinations and the blurred line between what is real and what exists solely as conjurings inside his mind, can be traced as a direct reference to how Berserkers lived and fought.

What I love about The Northman and Eggers is that the magic feels magical. It all seems real enough not to be merely dismissed as imagination, but there's just enough plausible deniability that it doesn't stray into the realm of straight-up fantasy.

Nicole Kidman looks like she doesn't belong because she isn't from there, she was a trophy from England

I worked with Mr Skarsgard on the tv series The Stand in 2019. I remember asking what he had coming up afterwards and he mentioned a “Viking project that he’s really excited for.” I couldn’t be more pleased with the end result and his performance. He is a seriously kind man and he deserves praise for this movie.

If you are thinking That the plot of this movie sounds a little familiar and that Amleth kind of sounds like Hamlet then you would be right. The saga of Amleth, prince of Jutland is the direct inspiration for William Shakespeare's Hamlet. There was an earlier attempt to bring this saga to the big screen in 1994 with Christian Bale as Amleth, but I guess "Prince of Jutland" wasn't a catchy enough title for an international audience

Dude. I just discovered your channel. Listening to your commentary, you might as well be on my back porch with my friends, BBQ and beer in hand, joining in our conversations. I love your content! Keep it up!

I like that we didn't have to be pounded over the head with "THE MESSAGE".

I just rewatched The Witch last night after seeing The Northman last week. Eggers has a knack for making an "artsy" movie, without making you think it's an art house movie. Same with The Lighthouse. I saw a lot of people thinking that this was supposed to be some epic action movie set to Norse historical/mythical ideas, and I was asking people if they've ever seen any of Eggers work. If you're expecting a Michael Bay style action film, you'll likely be disappointed. If you like good story, and great cinematography, you'll like this movie.

Anna Taylor-Joy is beautiful, Bjork's Seeress is my favorite character in the film, and Nicole Kidman's character is not supposed to look like she belongs: she is not Norse -- she's a Breton from northwest Frankia (France) captured as a slave and brought to Iceland. IOW, they were all perfect for their roles.

I just finished watching this one for the first time in what I can say will make for many times. And, since I'm not a connoisseur of ocular culinary cinematic delights viewed and expressed in higher cognitive forms of comprehensible cognitive conveyance (like our hero Drunkler who made this very video), I can only sum this Film up in the most simplest of terms: Masterpiece! . . . Robert Eggers, you have a new fan.

Shakespeare based Hamlet off of Amleth’s story

I recently watched this movie and all I can say is: *THIS MOVIE F**KING ROCKS!* This film felt like a massive love letter to Norse mythology and *HOLY SHIT!* it was amazing!

This movie was phenomenal on every level. storytelling, cinematography, pacing, everything

Drinker, this was my fav movie of the year. Thanks for the rec!

Great Job! Keep up your great important work! Appreciate it. Love your reviews. 🙂❤

Since you already watched Cowboy Bebop, might wanna try Vinland Saga. It's also about Vikings. Good cast, great antagonist and good narrative. It's a pretty good story. Despite being made in Japan and being an anime, it managed to have more historical accuracy than most western shows

Robert Eggers is a breath of fresh air, every time. Northman was incredible.

In Thor Ragnarok I kept saying that is not a Valkyrie! In this movie I finally got to show my kids what a Valkyrie is. I loved that scream. She looked so otherworldly.

This has become one of my favourite movies, and it's driving me crazy because I've talked to several people who didn't understand it and therefore didn't like it. It's a shame because it's an amazing film.

I hate everything that comes out in cinemas. Except this. This movie is good. Watch the Lighthouse first. Symbols, omens, dreams, rituals and violent theatre verging on horror are all at play here. You’re in good hands and with “Northman” the director clearly enjoys telling the story he has for you. Refreshing.

As soon as big review companies hate it in this day, you know it's a movie to watch, just like they did with King Arthur

Excellent work as always, sir!🙌🏼😎

A simple premise, executed beautifully. The score was stirring, the visuals were incredible, a great deal of historically authenticity, and absolute brutality. Also some well done moral ambiguity. The movie didn’t need to hold your hand and lead you to it. This movie absolutely amps you up as you get to commune with a part of you that daily life and polite society obscure from you. I was buzzing leaving the theater and I will be seeing it again.

The more I think about the movie the more I think it's a masterpiece. This should be added to film schools to show what a good character arch is. From seeking revenge out of rage and hatred to looking at the bigger picture and thinking of the greater good made this a perfect example of why modern cinema has become so shallow

We need a Celtic worrier version of this movie

Actually, it is based on the Saga of Amleth. It's not historical as much as mythological. Great role for Bjork

If you like this then I would highly recommend the anime "Vinland saga" which also tells a subversion on the revenge story set during the Viking period that has a great story, plot and themes with multi layered characters and historical accuracy. It's about a boy who's father is killed by another Viking and ends up following him around, seeking to get revenge by defeating him in an "honorable warriors duel". Vinland saga is remarkably grounded for an anime series and has no shortage of brutal realistic violence. I could not recommend it enough.

The Northman is the first movie I’ve seen in a very long time that I remember each and every scene from. I really can’t recommend it enough. The story isn’t a grand, overarching story deciding the fate of the universe, and that is great. Back in the day that might be a plus but in this day and age the fact that this movie has the sense to just tell a normal story focusing on a single, well developed character is a god send.

IMO The Lighthouse is Eggers best film (my favorite film ever) but with that said, Eggers is really making a name for himself these days with true art pieces.

What I liked about Amleth is that, despite his access to the supernatural/spiritual elements, he was a human who got serious injuries that he could not come back from. I also like how his motivation to kill his uncle transformed. He wanted to save his mother and avenge his father, but that changed after she told him the truth about his feelings towards his uncle and the true character of his father. I believe his motivation was tampered by this truth, and he considered leaving the vengeance all behind to run away with the slave. But his motivation for vengeance reignited when he received news that he was going to bear twins, and could not fathom being on the run from his uncle for the rest of his kids lives and the slave’s. He sacrificed himself to assure the safety of his heirs. Really enjoyed this movie!

We need more Viking media like The Northman and Vinland Saga, rather than the “Netflix Adaptation” version of this time period which just makes it look like a joke.