There are many sources listed for Shakespeare's Hamlet, a couple of them being Scandinavian in origin, and the closest to the play's events being the legend of Amleth, transmitted to us distorted by a Saxon writer, but allegedly based on an Icelandic poem. Robert Eggers' most straightforward feature, The Northman, tries to show us what that original tale might have been like, reinterpreting Hamlet as a Viking Saga, reverse-engineering the play's key source. Like the play, it is a revenge story, and like the play, its supernatural elements are for the most part ambiguous. Shakespeare's Hamlet isn't invoked - Amleth the Berzerker isn't delaying his action from any kind of psychological trait, he's fated to do so only under certain circumstances. So while knowing the story being told - which I realized pretty early on - does "spoil" the basic plot, its surprises remain in interpretation, some deviating substantially from the play to respect the Saga formula. While not exactly a horror film, it's still Eggers, a master of desaturated cinematography and staged gore. This is in fact a very violent film, but it's so immersive that it feels entirely natural to this well-researched world. Still, I'm sure a lot of people walked out of the theater a little dazed.
Definitely a great spectacle but I can’t help but feel a little bit underwhelmed by how things went in the story.
This is a tale about a man who seeks revenge and at the end... well, he gets it. Yes, there’s the mother twist but that really didn’t change much about Amleth. Other descendants of this story felt more dynamic: Hamlet had doubts about what to do; Ben-Hur didn’t find satisfaction in revenge; and Simba rejected doing anything about it for quite a while.
Not as tight as The VVitch or The Lighthouse but still worth a watch on the big screen. Cinema needs more productions like this.
Quiet disturbing. I love that Hamlet was based on an Icelandic myth from the 9th/10th century and the protagonist's name Amleth is just an inversion of the name Hamlet. Wonderful cinematography with lots of moments decicated to the ethereal aspects of viking beliefs.
Going back to the disturbing comment. This did dampen my mppd. Incredibly dark moments.
Ok stylish Viking movie.........BUT......was a bit disappointed. It was not what I expected. Overlong and too much mystic. It was ok but when you're expecting something else....not an easy watch but that was clearly not it's intent....but the trailer was misleading. Great scenery and cast was excellent!
Bloody men dancing around the fire and wearing wolf skins. The movie is not an easy watch, it’s about one and only thing about – revenge, mixed with Norway mythology. At least Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga shines some light into the darkness.
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Siskoid
There are many sources listed for Shakespeare's Hamlet, a couple of them being Scandinavian in origin, and the closest to the play's events being the legend of Amleth, transmitted to us distorted by a Saxon writer, but allegedly based on an Icelandic poem. Robert Eggers' most straightforward feature, The Northman, tries to show us what that original tale might have been like, reinterpreting Hamlet as a Viking Saga, reverse-engineering the play's key source. Like the play, it is a revenge story, and like the play, its supernatural elements are for the most part ambiguous. Shakespeare's Hamlet isn't invoked - Amleth the Berzerker isn't delaying his action from any kind of psychological trait, he's fated to do so only under certain circumstances. So while knowing the story being told - which I realized pretty early on - does "spoil" the basic plot, its surprises remain in interpretation, some deviating substantially from the play to respect the Saga formula. While not exactly a horror film, it's still Eggers, a master of desaturated cinematography and staged gore. This is in fact a very violent film, but it's so immersive that it feels entirely natural to this well-researched world. Still, I'm sure a lot of people walked out of the theater a little dazed.baraka92
Definitely a great spectacle but I can’t help but feel a little bit underwhelmed by how things went in the story.Not as tight as The VVitch or The Lighthouse but still worth a watch on the big screen. Cinema needs more productions like this.
Fastkit
Incredible experience! Beautiful cinematography, badass action, trippy, and it’s historically accurate. I don’t know what more you can ask for?!Jace Lightner
Quiet disturbing. I love that Hamlet was based on an Icelandic myth from the 9th/10th century and the protagonist's name Amleth is just an inversion of the name Hamlet. Wonderful cinematography with lots of moments decicated to the ethereal aspects of viking beliefs.Going back to the disturbing comment. This did dampen my mppd. Incredibly dark moments.
Shoutout to Anna Taylor Joy, as always!
Filmbuff77
Can't wait to see what Robert Eggers does with his next film.Djuric
Waited two long years for this and got what we wanted!BLJNBrouwer
"The cub you once hunted ate up your nose. Now the wolf has grown. He hungers for the rest!"palefire
Felt like the movie version of Elden RingEarring72
Ok stylish Viking movie.........BUT......was a bit disappointed. It was not what I expected. Overlong and too much mystic. It was ok but when you're expecting something else....not an easy watch but that was clearly not it's intent....but the trailer was misleading. Great scenery and cast was excellent!boulderman
Very good but too many shades of Gladiator, then culminating in "I with have be veng".Decent action, sets/locations. I get the mythology but it was a bit surreal at times 7/10
Since found out about the real story and wish they'd mentioned that at the start!
airi86ja
Cruelty equals GOT.However film has its deep - mythological & shamanic moments. I also enjoyed the soundtrack.
Unfortunately the end was mehh...
Lilu Milcalova
meh, predictableCodeV
Bloody men dancing around the fire and wearing wolf skins. The movie is not an easy watch, it’s about one and only thing about – revenge, mixed with Norway mythology. At least Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga shines some light into the darkness.Dekisha
ShitCeejzor
movie sucked my god..... took everything in me to finish it.