The Northman

The Northman ★★★★

A hard-R sword and sorcery mash-up of Conan the Barbarian, Hamlet, and Vinland Saga? Don’t mind if I do!

This was so fucking far up my alley, I almost couldn’t help but like it. Skarsgard is almost unrecognizable in the lead role, and Anya Taylor-Joy is radiant as always, even in a movie where most of the cast is constantly covered in mud, blood, and intestines. Eggers plays it straight but not so dour as to ruin the inherent fun of a bunch of dudes in wolf hats hacking each other to pieces. I wouldn’t have minded a little more sorcery with my swords (lean into the craziness, not away), but I’ll take what I can get, especially in this sadly post-‘80s world.

I don’t think it’s quite on the level of Eggers’ transcendentally weird and funny Lighthouse, but I like the cut of his jib. And kudos for including a song and dance number, sort of.

Added to my Greatest Naked Fights list here.

[Alamo Season Pass]

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