Robert Eggers is quickly becoming a filmmaking sensation with the atmosphere of his immersive stories. With only three major films under his belt, Eggers has propelled himself to stardom with his ingenious writing, innovative period pieces, and creative direction. Eggers has also been expected to direct a remake of the 1922 silent film, Nosferatu, but the project has had a number of setbacks. Whether the remake happens soon or further in the future, the environment Eggers creates within each of his films is certain to make it both memorable and successful.
Eggers made his directorial debut in 2015 with the premiere of The Witch, which gained critical acclaim. The film starred Anya Taylor-Joy in her film debut as the film's lead. This would also mark the first collaboration between Eggers and Taylor-Joy. Eggers' second film, The Lighthouse would continue to elevate Eggers' status amongst fans and film critics, particularly thanks to the performances granted by its leads, Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Most recently, Eggers directed and co-wrote The Northman, which has continued his cinematic success. While all three are highly regarded, only one of them has cemented Eggers' legacy thus far.
Eggers, like horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan, has a growing list of frequent collaborators. Among them are Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, and Katie Dickie, who appeared in both The Witch and The Northman. Dafoe is also a two-time collaborator of Eggers', starring in both The Lighthouse and The Northman. Due to the subject Eggers tackles in each film, none of the performances, even from repeating collaborators, are similar. The Witch takes its audience to the 1630s in a supernatural horror film that explores witchcraft and the crippling implications it had for those associated with and accused during this era. The Lighthouse is set in slightly more recent times, taking audiences to the 1890s. Just as the title suggests, the story revolves around a lighthouse and its two workers whose mental stability evaporates over time. Most recently, The Northman voyages all the way back to the first century AD, delivering an epic that sets itself apart from the horror projects Eggers typically crafts.
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Elements of Eggers' experience with horror films are evident throughout The Northman. Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) meets with a Witch (Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson) who produces the head of Heimir (Dafoe) and allows Amleth to speak with him. Amleth is guided to retrieve a sword in the possession of one of the Draugr (an undead skeleton). It's not the dealings with the undead that create the horrific atmosphere, but rather the tone these elements create for the characters. These scenes, along with some of Eggers' stylistic choices including an early scene between Heimir, Amleth, and King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke), all carry traces of The Witch and The Lighthouse's horrific, supernatural aspects.
Even with the subtle facets of horror, The Northman feels exactly like that it was created to be: an epic. The early death of King Aurvandill and the abduction of Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman) send Amleth on the run. Years later, he decides it's time to return to fulfill his vow to avenge his father, save his mother, and kill his uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang), who murdered his father. The tale of Amleth's heroic journey is full of expected heroic setbacks, which only further fuel his quest for vengeance. Through this, The Northman immerses its audience in Viking culture. From Scandinavian games, historic figures, sacred ceremonies, Valkyries, Odin, and the symbolic ravens, Eggers creates an environment where viewers feel as if they're strapped on Amleth's back as he fulfills his lifelong quest.
This immersive quality isn't new to Eggers' work. The Lighthouse drives its viewers just as mad as Ephriam Winslow (Pattinson) as he works as a wickie under an equally strange Thomas Wake (Dafoe). Ephriam is haunted by strange occurrences that eventually foreshadow the fate he succumbs to by the film's end. The Northman doesn't use the same instances of symbolic foreshadowing, but allows the traditional style of an epic and mythological history to speak for itself.
Of Eggers' three films, the cinematic scope of The Northman best lends itself to cement Eggers as a phenomenal filmmaker. The Northman's competition for the role comes from The Lighthouse, which is far more artistically designed than The Northman. Its maddening storyline and ambiguous ending create an unforgettable narrative that could still leave some viewers scratching their heads. The Northman is a far more cohesive story, leaving its viewers with a definite ending. The fate of its characters is clear and that solid ending to Amleth's heroic journey is what the story requires.
This isn't to say that The Witch has no chance of being a notable addition to Eggers' filmography. As his directorial debut alone, the film will always hold significant weight in his career. However, Eggers himself has expressed his present frustration with the film, as he felt he was unable to get everything he imagined the film to be onto the screen. Those frustrations and lessons he took from crafting his first film have paid off in the form of The Lighthouse and The Northman, and the knowledge he continues to acquire only bodes well for the projects Eggers will craft in the future.
The Witch and The Lighthouse are now streaming on Amazon Prime. The Northman is now playing in theaters.