“The Northman” is the third feature film from director Robert Eggers, and stars Alexander Skarsgård as a Viking prince called Amleth who seeks revenge against his father’s killer. Eggers is perhaps one of the best directors currently working in the film industry and I would highly recommend you checking out his previous films, “The Lighthouse” and “The Witch” which are similar to “The Northman” in terms of their visual aesthetics, and the fact that all three of his films explore the dark nature that exists in all humans. If you enjoyed watching “The Northman” and you’re seeking other similar films then I have composed a short list of some films which I think are definitely worth seeking out. If you have any further recommendations then please comment below and I would love to hear your thoughts on “The Northman”.
“Beowulf” (2007, dir. Robert Zemeckis)
“Beowulf” was filmed using live action motion capture animation and is based on the old English epic poem of the same name. The poem is considered one of the most important and influential old English pieces of literature ever to be written. Although, the poem only exists in one single copy in a manuscript known as the Nowell Codex. If you’re interested in early forms of literature, then exploring the history behind “Beowulf” is worth devoting an afternoon to. If you’re not able to commit to that, then watching the film is just as fun. Beowulf (voiced by actor Ray Winstone), a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins), the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by the monster Grendel (Crispin Glover). After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother (Angelina Jolie) seeks revenge. There’s something slightly uncanny about the computer animation in the film, but if you can get past that then you’ll discover that “Beowulf” is an extraordinary film in terms of its ability to bring to life a poem from 700 AD. Sadly, the film underperformed at the Box Office which is often the case for misunderstood works of art.
“Ironclad” (2011, dir. Jonathan English)
Another severely underappreciated film is “Ironclad” which received not so great reviews from the critics upon its release. If you were able to stomach the violence and action/fight scenes in “The Northman” then you should consider watching “Ironclad”. The film chronicles the siege of Rochester Castle by King John in 1215. If you’re not too familiar with your English monarchs, then I’ll provide you with a brief history lesson…King John was so inept at being king that he lost the Duchy of Normandy and most of his other French lands to King Philip II of France.A revolt by the barons led to led to the sealing of Magna Carta, a document considered an early step in the evolution of the constitution of the United Kingdom. “Ironclad” is centered around King John’s reaction to the Magna Carta being signed and his thirst for revenge against those pesky barons. In the film, the main character is Thomas Marshall (James Purefoy), a disillusioned Templar Knight and former Crusader who seeks release from his Order. Like Amleth in “The Northman”, Marshall is a man of few words, and isn’t afraid to fight for what he feels is justice.
“Centurion” (2010, dir. Neil Marshall)
This 2010 film is very loosely based on the disappearance of the Roman Empire's Ninth Legion in Caledonia in the early second century CE. In Marshall’s own words, “It's not meant to be historically perfect. I'm picking up on a legend and exploring it... it's an action thriller.” So, if you can overlook the historical inaccuracies, then you should be able to be thoroughly entertained by “Centurion”. Set in Britain, A.D. 117. Quintus Dias (Michael Fassbender), the sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, marches north with General Titus Virilus (Dominic West) and his legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the face of the Earth and destroy their leader, Gorlacon. Perhaps my favourite character in the film is Etain (Olga Kurylenko) who is a total bad-ass. Etain is a warrior and a scout from the Brigantes tribe. After seeing her family raped and murdered by the Romans, she was also raped and had her tongue cut out. She fled north and was taken in by the Britons, who trained her and sent her back to the Romans as a spy. Like “Ironclad” and “Beowulf” the film underperformed at the box office and received very mixed reviews. There’s a gritty realism to the film which is very similar to the grittiness seen in “The Northman'”, and there’s also the same unflinching violence that captures how brutal the world was at that time. It’s not a perfect movie but it certainly is worth watching if you like unsolved mysteries from history.
“Valhalla Rising” (2010, dir. Nicolas Winding Refn)
Love him or hate him, there’s no use denying that director Nicolas Winding Refn is certainly a visionary auteur. His films always have a poetic beauty to them, they can be hard to watch at times for their unrelenting violence and their brutality but in a lot of ways so can a film by Eggers. The film takes place around the year 1096 AD and follows a Norse warrior named One-Eye (Mads Mikkelsen) and a boy (Maarten Stevenson) as they travel with a band of Christian Crusaders by ship in the hopes of finding the Holy Land. Instead, they find themselves in an unknown land where they are assailed by unseen forces and dark visions. This film is definitely worth seeking out if you were drawn to “The Northman” because it featured Vikings. “Valhalla Rising” relies mostly on visual storytelling, with there only being approximately only 120 lines of dialogue in the entire film. Another fun fact for you: Mads Mikkelsen's prosthetic eye is actually modelled on the one that Kirk Douglas wore in “The Vikings” (1958).
“The Vikings” (1958, dir. Richard Fleischer)
No, not the TV show (even though that is pretty awesome) but the Kirk Douglas film from 1958. Sure, it’s not as ‘gritty’ or as ‘violent’ as something like “The Northman” but if you love Viking mythology then it’s worth seeking out. Dubbed a "Norse Opera" by New York Times critic Bosley Crowther, “The Vikings” is an adaptation of the 1951 novel “The Viking” by Edison Marshall, which in turn is based on material from the sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok and his sons. The film follows the lives of Einar (Douglas) and Eric (Tony Curtis) who are two Viking half-brothers. The former is a great warrior whilst the other is an ex-slave. Despite being brothers, neither one knows each other’s true identity. Northumbria in Britain becomes free for the taking, both of them decide to make a claim for it. Things get more complicated when the two brothers decided to involve princess Morgana (Janet Leigh). What makes “The Vikings” such an impressive film is the fact that its director, Richard Fleischer, actually spent two years researching the Norse civilization in preparation. This included the actual designs for the Viking ships they used and the breed of horse that they rode. The film was also shot on location in Kvinnherad, Norway, which was something that was virtually unheard of at the time.
Other notable mentions:
“300”- Men fighting against crazy odds, and strange weird magic/witchcraft makes “300” a worthy accompaniment to “The Northman”.
“Robin Hood” (any version)- The original ‘anti-hero’, Robin Hood is a man who takes on authority and seeks revenge for his slain family.
“Gladiator”- A great epic about a man seeking revenge. Like “The Northman” it features brilliant cinematography and a fantastic score. Ridley Scott’s other films such as “The Last Duel” and “Kingdom of Heaven” are also worth seeking out if you’re into historical drama. (His adaptation of “Robin Hood” is fairly decent too).
“King Arthur” (2004)- This version of the legend of King Arthur feels far grittier than other incarnations that we’ve seen on the big-screen. The film was originally meant to have R-Rating but sadly got watered down for a ‘Disney’ release. Still, the battle scenes are entertaining.
“The Eagle” (2011)- Again another historical film that focuses on the mysterious Roman Ninth Legion that disappeared. It might be worth doing a double bill with “Centurion”.
**All photos are from IMDb**