Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Northman Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 21, 2022

The Northman is a story of bloodlust. It is the story of a young warrior who witnesses great atrocity and vows revenge on the man who forever changed his life's focus and direction, who metaphorically ripped his heart out when he destroyed that belonging to another. This story is not new, and this is not noteworthy. However, this is that story told in all of its morbid, bleak, and unrelenting authenticity, exploring a broken man who has built a body and a skillset well suited to the combat of his day while grooming a heart for vengeance and a soul bent on destruction. The movie is visceral and raw and very well done within these gruesome and grisly parameters. Prepare for an intense journey into the past set on the converging bloody battlefields of the mind, soul, and body.

The story follows young Amleth (Oscar Novak) who is celebrating his father King Aurvandill's (Ethan Hawke) return from a mlitary campaign by participating in a right-of-passage ritual with him. The next day, the king is slain by his own brother, Fjölnir (Claes Bang). Amleth escapes and vows revenge. Years pass. Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) has grown into a ferocious warrior, still hellbent on tracking down his father's killer and exacting revenge. As he draws closer to his prey, he learns more about his past and also finds himself in a burgeoning relationship with a slave woman sorceress named Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy).

The plot is ridiculously simple, but the film nevertheless manages to build a very complex character out of its hero, Amleth, as the film follows his journey of revenge which explores his vicious and violent tendencies that will serve him well as the assassin who would exact his personal revenge. The movie is unabashed in its presentation of gruesome violence but also focused on the inner man, the beast who would do anything and dismember anyone standing in his way. The film takes time to build a relationship for him with Olga, which is not a needless side plot but rather plays with enough character-building depth to not alter his pursuit but put an extra spin on it, allowing for a little more depth where little actually exists. Make no mistake, this is mostly a grisly hack-and-slash movie which is absolutely and unforgivingly brutal and raw, visually and emotionally alike, but it does effort to find balance and depth where little might otherwise exist with a lesser script, under lesser direction, and starring lesser actors.

Despite the film being populated with name actors, there's not a name "face" amongst the cast, with the exception of Kidman who is the only actor who stands out in the film, mostly because she's not covered in facial hair, blood, and muck. Everyone else absolutely disappears into the story, the wardrobe, and the landscape. The actors do well to bring depth where there's simply not much to be found within the confines of the film's straightforward plotting. The cast fills the dramatic needs and physical demands with equal parts believability; Skarsgård, for example, not only looks the part, but he feels like a ferocious warrior who has been training for brutal hand-to-hand combat for most of his life. The film is set against a beautiful Irish backdrop standing in for Iceland; the photography is a dream, and the locations are to die for.

The Northman Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Northman exacts its bloody revenge on Blu-ray with a positively stellar 1080p transfer. Though the movie be bleak and gray, frequently dark, and visually depraved, there is plenty of opportunity for solid color expression, particularly blood, natural greens, and the odd example of brighter attire. However, skies are often overcast, clothes are usually some shades of gray or brown, and the picture favors a tonally depleted and weary expression as a way of supporting the morbid and bleak storyline. Be that as it may, the SDR color range thrives within these parameters. Details are terrific as well. The picture is well capable of capturing every skin detail conceivable at this resolution, not to mention filthy strands of hair and beard, caked-on mud and blood, natural terrain and vegetation information, and manmade structures, all with precision intricacy and visual intimacy. Black levels are decent, but there are some artificial looking nighttime shots here and there that betray perfect blacks. Skin tones are pasty and pale but fit into the intended color parameters. There are no obvious source or encode blemishes of note. The image looks tremendous.

The Northman Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The featured Dolby Atmos soundtrack is an absolute treat. The presentation is rich with detail and commanding in its spacing and accuracy. Listeners will feel in the center of combat, evading devastating blows, dodging swooping arrows, and feeling totally submersed in the maelstrom of epically violent hand to hand combat. Musical score is powerful and commanding, offering full stage engagement defined by crystal clear detail, impactful but not overburdening bass, and full stage immersion, including the top end. Discrete effects are not commonplace overhead, but the added fullness the Atmos channels provides only adds to the sense of authenticity the track offers. Light ambient effects within the world are incredibly realistic and engaging as well. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration.

The Northman Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of The Northman includes deleted and extended scenes, a handful of featurettes, and an audio commentary track. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Deleted and Extended Scenes (1080p, 12:28 total runtime): Included are Fjölnir and Hallgrimir at the Slave Shed, Yule Mummer Dance and Aurvandil's Speech, Vikings Hide Langskips, Fjölnir's Dream, Bosa Saga Extended, Aurvandil's Ghost, Fjölnir and Gudrun, Gudrun Tucks Gunnar In, and Hel's Gate Open.
• An Ageless Epic (1080p, 11:17): A catchall supplement that explores the straightforward plot and characters, Viking mythology, Robert Eggers' direction and immersion into Norwegian mythology and Viking history, production design authenticity, costumes, and more.
• The Faces of Vikings (1080p, 10:27): Exploring the cast and the characters they play.
• Amleth's Journey to Manhood (1080p, 3:56): A look at the "rite of passage" sequence as seen early in the film.
• Shooting the Raid (1080p, 4:10): Making one of the film's most invigorating and brutal action sequences.
• Knattleikr Game (1080p, 2:42): This piece quickly looks at the violent "ball game" seen midway through the film.
• A Norse Landscape (1080p, 4:43): Exploring the real life and cinematic majesty of the Northern Ireland shooting locations.
• Audio Commentary: Co-Writer/Director Robert Eggers explores his film.

The Northman Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Northman disguises its plot simplicity with authentic grit, copious amounts of raw violence and bloodshed, and just enough character depth beyond the march for revenge to play as a very good example of its kind. The locations, costumes, and weapons look as authentic as one would expect and beyond Nicole Kidman the cast disappears into the roles. The Blu-ray looks and sounds terrific and is supported by a solid amount of bonus content. Highly recommended.