The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker May 9, 2024

'The Last Kingdom: The Seven Kings Must Die', which was released on Netflix in April of 2023, makes its Blu-ray debut courtesy of Universal. In what seems to be the final chapter of his story, Uhtred, the Saxon raised as a Dane, must once again take up arms when peace is threatened in an effort to bring about an England united under one king. The feature-length finale to 'The Last Kingdom: The Complete Series' features strong audio and video presentations and a short "making-of" feature. Neither a slipcover nor a Digital Code are included.

For those uninitiated, it is critical to point out that The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is the capstone movie for the five-season run of The Last Kingdom, a series based on the Bernard Cornwell's "The Saxon Stories" novels. If you haven't yet seen that action-packed and politically treacherous series, you're advised to do some homework and start with The Last Kingdom: The Complete Series. The series is excellent, and while it feels small in its beginnings, it hits its stride toward the middle of the second season. Knowledge of the series is critical in order to understand the trials, heroics, and sacrifices of Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), Finan (Mark Rowly), and Sihtric (Arnas Fedaravicius), the origin and importance of the quest for a united England, and therefore the gravity of what's at stake in The Last Kingdom's final chapter.

Long-time fans will immediately note that something is amiss. The opening narration which provides a recap of salient plot points from prior episodes and sets the stage for the upcoming action isn't handled by Uhtred. In a dramatic break, Finan completes these chores, informing the viewer that Uhtred's Danes in Northumbria, it seems, still cling to a tenuous peace with the Saxons that border their lands. All of that, though, is in jeopardy as King Edward's health wanes and his death seems imminent. The voiceover ends as a longboat lands and a new foreign threat strides ashore, but the trademark "Destiny is all!" closing line is most conspicuous by its absence.

In Winchester, King Edward has died. Before news can spread, Queen Eadgifu (Elaine Cassidy) Lord Aldhelm (James Northcote) and her youngest son Edmund flee to inform Uhtred. No specific heir to the throne has been named and some amount of chaos and bloodshed are all but certain to follow. In Bebbanburg, Uhtred is gathered with Finan, Sihtric, and a host of others around a table for a night of feasting. It's a happy moment for the de facto king of the Danes. Finan's wife Ingrith (Ilona Chevakova), adds tension into the revelry by informing the men of a prophetic dream she's had for three consecutive nights in which she sees that England will not be united until seven kings die. No sooner have these words been uttered then Queen Eadgifu arrives with her party. She believes King Edward's eldest son, Aethelstan, will kill his younger brother Aelfweard so that he can seize the throne. Uhtred agrees to intervene to prevent this fratricide and oversee a peaceful transition of power. But despite his presence, counsel, and pleas, Uhtred is unable to stop the inevitable and Aethelstan (Harry Gilby) mercilessly slaughters Aelfweard and his men to secure his claim. King Aethelstan, as the viewer soon learns, is far too green and inexperienced to be a good king, and before long, the poor counsel he receives leads to alienating and disenfranchising his people and creating conditions that are ripe to be exploited by a coalition of Christian and pagan Dane kings.

By now, fans of the series are relatively familiar with the formula at work in The Last Kingdom. As is typically the fashion, a problem arises, Uhtred speeds to help, events don't go as planned, the good Christian kings undermine/disrespect/betray the pagan Uhtred, villains plot and backstab, Uhtred rides the rescue, and then all is forgiven between him and the Christian kings. Typically this plays out over a complete 10-episode season, with entire episodes given to set-up, evil machinations, Uhtred's (and the Danes') suffering, and minor skirmishes, until at last all of the players are in place and the final battle and its aftermath is upon us. Time is given to let the story breathe and unfold naturally and character development happens for the just and unjust, alike; antagonists are afforded opportunities to become increasingly vile and capable, and the trials our heroes must endure prove not only their mettle but their worthiness. As quickly as events happened and circumstances changed in the preceding five seasons, it never felt rushed. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die ambitiously does not sacrifice the scope of what its trying to accomplish, and the plot of the film is one that would lend itself well to a full season. However, instead of 10 hours to tell this last chapter, a little less than two hours are available, and that does not happen without a cost.

Of the evil alliance that would challenge Uhtred and King Aethelstan, only one, the pagan Anlaf (Pekka Strang) is afforded any time to enrich or enhance his character. He's seen landing in the film's opening, attacking a village, and encouraging his followers to create chaos, but the camera's time to follow him is limited. Before long, he's hosting a meeting with the Kings of Strathclyde, Orkney, Shetland, and Man trying to foment the seeds of war in this time of transition. After King Aethelstan attacks Scotland, its king joins the group as well, but little is done to suggest or flesh- out any but the basest of motivations, with their prowess as rulers or tacticians never adequately demonstrated. These kings essentially exist to provide soldiers for the final confrontation and, presumably, for historical accuracy. In keeping with tradition, King Aethelstan behaves rather villainously as well for a time, desecrating or destroying pagan holy places, forcing people to convert to Christianity, and attacking friends and allies. His corruption occurs quickly, and his vulnerability to manipulation is too significant, with only a few brief scenes to explain why.

Moving at a breakneck pace, since all of the villains for the film are essentially new, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die has precious little time to introduce new characters to add to the ranks of the heroes, and once again we follow Uhtred, Finan, and Sihtric across England and into battle. Uhtred's daughter and one of his sons do not appear in the film, nor are they referenced. Time is not given to comprehensively explain how their lives have changed in the intervening time between the close of the series and the opening of the film other than to indicate that Uhtred is now "old" and spends more time hunting and feasting than he does in battle. Still a cunning strategist, Uhtred has, as the film demonstrates, lost a step on the battlefield itself, but less is done to advance Finan or Sihtric's characters, other than to heap more misery upon them.

Returning to Hungary where the series was shot, production values remain incredibly high, with the practical sets, regardless of their intended condition, being as eye-catching and expansive as ever with several well-known locations from the series making an appearance here. Weapons, armor, and other costumes display great craftmanship and attention to detail that generate a sense of authenticity. Once again Levente Lezsák carefully orchestrates the film's fight sequences. Smaller confrontations allow the viewer to fully appreciate the totality of the actions of those involved, but the film's staging of the massive and bloody Battle of Brunanburh is undoubtedly the centerpiece. Involving over a hundred stuntmen and almost two hundred extras fighting alongside the principal cast, it is chaotic, gory, and punishing, and no doubt is the main driver of the feature's rating. The camera work again provides close-ups of small groups of actors in important moments of the fight intermixed with wider shots that establish the massive scale of the battle not only as it rages, but in the aftermath as well.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

It should come as no surprise to viewers who have followed Uhtred's adventures since the beginning that the series' blue-grey color palette is brought to film as well, and it's just as dominant here as it ever was. This is a world where grey armor, brown leather and fur, and tan tunics are in abundance and bold primaries are in short supply. The impact of this color choice is to create the series' signature aged look, produced in accordance with the colors generated from the types of dyes likely employed at the time. Detail levels are pleasingly high and are most easily noticed and enjoyed when examining battle-tested chain mail where every nick and dent in every interlocking ring is visible, and the furs worn by the Danes which present with an authentic texture. Coarser rough-spun garments won by the priests and common folk also yield an almost tactile quality, and environmental particulars in stonework, thatched rooves, and the wooden walls of Bebbanburg also dazzle in their rustic way. Black levels are inky with much detail visible in even the darkest of scenes, and skin tones are healthy.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The English DTS-HD Master Audio track is solid, but it is rather front-heavy. Dialogue is typically front and center, and sits nicely on top of music, sounds of battle, and other environmental sounds. The bass presence is sufficient to add the needed weight to marching feat, thundering horsehooves, and crushing implements of destruction. Immersive moments are present but are employed judiciously, such as when Uhtred is blindsided during Aethelstan's treachery, and later during his crowning to create a sonically cavernous space. The often sparse score is reproduced with excellent clarity and resides largely in the fronts as well, though there are moments when it slowly spreads and swells in the surrounds. Appropriately enough, the climactic Battle of Brunanburh is also the unquestioned highlight of the track, but it still remains steadfastly within the parameters of the sound design for the film. More subtle and utilitarian than extravagant, it's a track that demonstrates competence rather than seeking to impress. As with the video transfer, it is very much in keeping with the preceding five seasons.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die has but one frustratingly short supplemental feature.

• The Making of 'Seven Kings Must Die' (9.12) - Mat Chapman (Producer), Martha Hillier (Writer), Alexander Dreymon, Harry Gilby (Aethelstan), Elaine Cassidy (Queen Eadgifu), and others discuss bringing the series to a close with this movie event which features the largest battle in The Last Kingdom history.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Some may have found the original series' conclusion to be too rosy even as it didn't fully achieve King Alfred's vision. But after all that Uhtred had endured it seemed a fitting in its way. Seeking to more decisively resolve Uhtred's storyline and taking one more run at a united England, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die sees Uhtred and the Danes ally themselves with King Aethelstan as he seeks to achieve what his father and grandfather could not. At times rushed and populated with characters and motivations not as fully formed in a manner to which fans of the series have grown accustomed, the film does not skimp on production values and never fails to deliver on energetically choreographed and shot large-scale battles. Alexander Dreymon turns in an excellent performance as one of the most put-upon and noble heroes in modern storytelling, with fellow returning characters Finan (Mark Rowly), and Sihtric (Arnas Fedaravicius), joining him for the journey. Not for those unfamiliar with the series, despite its frustrating elements, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die does provide a more fitting end to Uhtred and England's saga than the season five finale did along with showcasing the most epic battle in the franchise. This being the last time we are likely to see Uhtred and his band, it would have been wonderful to see some more expansive and exhaustive supplemental features, especially a commentary with cast and crew, but unfortunately, we are only provided with one brief behind-the-scenes featurette. For fans of the series, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die comes recommended.