The Northman, directed by Robert Eggers and starring Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, and Willem Dafoe, could initially be mistaken for an easily digestible mainstream fare. This is, after all, a nearly hundred million dollar production releasing at the start of the summer blockbuster season.
Look beyond the resplendent visuals and dire marketing campaign, and Eggers’ latest proves itself a smart, deeply evocative meditation on the cycle of violence in a world shaped by faith. In re-telling the oral history of Amleth, Eggers finds a surprisingly fitting home in a mythical pan-Scandinavian world.
The result is a visionary folktale of its own that grows in the making.
Brilliantly carried by Skarsgård, Taylor-Joy, and Kidman, The Northman is a miracle for the sheer fact that it even exists. Epic, brutally violent, nuanced, and dreamlike, The Northman is a showcase for a unique directorial voice worth celebrating.
Toisto is the only pop culture media in Finland which focuses on English-language audiences in the Nordics. I review theatrical and streaming premieres, cover festivals worldwide, and occasionally write about games. I also create video essays on YouTube on a variety of topics. Welcome aboard!