“And what a good Norse tradition”
- John Oliver, The Lion King 2019

The problem I have with quite a lot of revenge films is that they’re very difficult to end with any sense of narrative satisfaction. They’re either going to get their revenge or they’re not going to get their revenge and it’s very easy to predict which one is going to happen. The Northman is no exception and when it ended I found myself feeling the same shrug I feel at the end of lots of revenge films, even the really really good ones. So when I watch a revenge movie I try to focus a bit more on the journey rather than the destination.

And what a journey this was. The Northman is a great film. The cinematography has production design made this one of the most immersive films I’ve ever seen. And the elements of fantasy made this feel like you were gathering round a campfire and listening to a great Norse legend. 

I did feel it’s length at times but it was worth it. I found myself really enjoying this film and it’s a contender for one of my favourites of the year.