The Northman: A Call to the Gods Book Review

Posted By yonghow on January 3rd, 2023

I highly enjoyed The Northman, an epic Viking revenge thriller that draws heavily from Norse mythology and folklore and executed with visceral relish by director Robert Eggers. I have a thing for period films that are informed by fantasy themes but are still grounded in historical reality, especially when the art direction, production and costume designs are of such high quality.

This book The Northman – A Call To The Gods has a good combination of art + making of content, I’ll say with about 60% coverage on the making of that includes on-set photography + interviews with cast/crew members, and 40% of the rest featuring concept art pieces, illustrations, select storyboards and character/costume design sketches.

I always appreciate a full on dedicated art of book that focuses completely on just concept art, but in this case it is a really great balance that allows me to appreciate the comprehensiveness of the entire film-making process.

Some particular highlights of the concept art pieces showcased are the designs for the Mound Dweller, the forbidding supernatural viking warrior from whom Amleth had to battle to obtain his weapon of vengeance, the Draugr, as well as the character design for the Seeress, played by All Is Full Of Love singer Björk.

Publisher book synopsis – The Northman: A Call to the Gods is the official look at how this epic Viking revenge thriller was conceived, written, cast, and produced by acclaimed director Robert Eggers.

Set against the ruthless backdrop of tenth-century Norse territory, The Northman is the a new epic Viking revenge thriller by acclaimed director Robert Eggers (The Witch [2015] and The Lighthouse [2019]), featuring an all-star cast including Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, and Björk.

Compiled from fascinating interviews with the cast and crew, inspiring storyboards, exclusive behind-the-scenes photographs—including the director’s own firsthand account of his creative processes in writing and directing—The Northman: A Call to the Gods explores the cold and forbidding world of the Vikings, their customs, traditions, and relentless thirst for battle and vengeance that inspired Eggers to write this compelling Norse saga.

Learn how the wardrobe department recreated the intricate chain mail armor and costumes of Viking berserkers and warriors; delve into the research behind the art department’s visual inspiration for replicating the villages of Hrafnsey and Freysdalur; and get the inside scoop on the challenges the cast encountered when creating the iconic characters of Amleth, Olga, Queen Gurdrún, and the Seeress. The Northman: A Call to the Gods is the perfect companion for both film fans and anyone interested in Viking history and legends.

The Northman: A Call to the Gods Book Review

Time to re-visit the excellent Northman on 4K ! – https://t.co/0Txx44BRIR pic.twitter.com/JF7r3c1Ks3

— blauereiter (@blauereiter) December 31, 2022

My copy of the 4K UHD blu-ray arrived (image above) just as I was writing this review, so I was able to re-visit the film again and reading the book definitely helped me identify and appreciate the finer details that would otherwise have eluded me, something that happens too easily because we’re so caught up in the narrative during a viewing. This book is a fantastic companion to an equally superb piece of film-making and comes recommended.

The Northman: A Call to the Gods details :

– Dimensions – 9.75 x 1 x 11.4 inches
– hardcover, 224 pages
– Full color, in English