My Review of THE NORTHMAN (2022)

Hot on the heels of its foreign inspiration muse, the arthouse Spanish masterpiece Hombre Del Norte (2019), arrives The Northman, a family action flick that kicks off the 2022 summer blockbuster season in glimmering fashion. We find a hero in Amleth, the quippy, lovable Viking from, you guessed it, the North, where he grew up in a haze of banquets and family bonding time. Early on, the audience is treated to a surprise cameo from Christian Bale in his Batman suit, teasing the extended role that both he and Amleth will have in Thor: Love and Thunder later this summer. Though fans will have to wait a few months for that exciting Marvel/DC/Nintendo crossover, this film contains enough swashbuckling action to hold them over and more. Without giving away too much precious plot, the introduction of the conflict during the seventh minute of the film sees Amleth sent on the adventure of a lifetime, crossing oceans, mountains, and deadly mine fields in order to restore balance to the multiverse and reunite with his true love, Olga. Hours before opening weekend kicked off, news broke that Olga will be recieving her own Apple TV spinoff series, with the lead role recasting Joey King as Olga due to Anya Taylor-Joy suffering scheduling conflicts. This knowledge surely enhances the viewing experience throughout acts two and three as the pair fight evil Norse monsters with their intuition and dumb luck. The obligatory after-credits scene is surely a step up from the fast-paced beating heart of this film, teasing a more grounded and character-driven future for the extended Robert Eggers-verse.