Searing images of invaders, horrific fighting, personal assaults, residences destroyed with people trapped inside, and the landscape littered with corpses

No, we’re not talking about what we see day and night on social media and television concerning the War in Ukraine.

Rather, these are images that may also remain in your mind’s eye after you see the epic, “The Northman.” I’m not so sure that I can recommend the film. Put it this way: I saw the movie so you don’t have to if you feel squeamish.

And you should. “The Northman” is nothing if not brutal, dark and lengthy. The on-screen images recall depictions of violence in the feature movies, “Braveheart” (1995) and “The Passion of The Christ” (2004), each of which was directed by Mel Gibson.

“The Northman” wasn’t directed by Mel Gibson. “The Northman” goes beyond some of the violence depicted in “Braveheart” and “The Passion of the Christ.”

Those movies told a story. They re-purposed the violence, like it or not. To what purpose the violence depicted in “The Northman” serves, I really know based on the film’s plot line.

There’s scant story development in the apparently well-researched film about the Viking myth. We’re given little character background about Nordic ways, and little explanation of Norse myths, even as the displays of terrible violence are in the movie-goer’s face during the two hours-plus that “The Northman” consumes. “The Northman” is relentlessly bleak. If that’s its purpose, it succeeds.

“The Northman” takes place in early 900 AD in what is modern-day Scotland, Ukraine, Iceland and Norway.

Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), a Viking prince, is bent on revenge for the death of his father, King Aurvandil War-Raven (Ethan Hawke), which the young Amleth witnessed. Amleth is taken to the land of Rus (roughly Russia, Ukraine and Belarus) to be raised by Vikings.

Amleth meets Olga of the Birch Forest (Anya Taylor-Joy), with whom he falls in love. He confronts his mother, Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman), and her husband, Fjölnir The Brotherless (Claes Bang), who is Amleth’s uncle and who killed Amleth’s father.

In supporting roles are Willem Dafoe (Heimir the Fool), Björk (the Seeress), Gustav Lindh (Thórir The Proud) and Olwen Fouéré (Ashildur Hofgythja).

Amleth is based on a medieval Scandinavian legendary figure said to be the basis for Prince Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.”

“The Northman” is directed by Robert Eggers, the go-to guy for bleak. Eggers (director, “The Lighthouse,” 2019; “The Witch: A New England Folktale,” 2015) co-wrote the screenplay for “The Northman” with Sjón (born Sigurjon B. Sigurdsson in Iceland). Sjón wrote the screenplay for “Lamb” (2021), winner, Un Certain Regard: Prize of Originality, 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

The apparently historically-accurate “Northman” has incredible fight scenes, astounding images and magnificent vistas. The cinematography is by Director of Photography Jarin Blaschke (Oscar nominee, cinematography, “The Lighthouse,” 2020).

As Amleth, Alexander Skarsgård (TV’s “Succession,” 2021; TV’s “Big Little Lies,” 2017-2019) slogs though the muck and makes a memorable and disturbing impression in a one-note performance of unmitigated vengeance.

As Olga of the Birch Forest, Anya Taylor-Joy (TV’s “The Queen’s Gambit,” 2020) is the film’s bright light of ever effervescent wide-eyed intrigue.

The pounding percussive score, with violin, bass, jaw harp, choral singing, and throat singing composed by Robin Carolan (“The Lighthouse”) and Sebastian Gainsbourgh is epic for the epic.

“The Northman” has jaw-dropping, smash-mouth fight choreography, impressive stunt work, incredible detail in production design, costume and props. “The Northman” is an amazing piece of cinema.

Nonetheless, “The Northman” is a colossal waste of time, some kind of cruel joke, and morally bankrupt.

To quote Shakespeare, “Macbeth,” Act 5, Scene 5, “The Northman” is ”full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Or to put it another way, as Mr. Peabody may have in “Peabody’s Improbable History” on TV’s “The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show” (1959-1964): “You can’t teach an Old Norseman new tricks.”

“The Northman,”

MPAA rated R (Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.) for strong bloody violence, some sexual content and nudity; Genre: Action, Adventure, Genre; Run Time: 2 hours, 17 minutes. Distributed by Focus Features.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“The Northman” was filmed on location in Iceland; Belfast Harbour Studios, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. The language of Old Norse is spoken in some scenes. Fortunately, there are subtitles.

At The Movies:

“The Northman” was seen in all it’s bloody gory in Dolby Cinema at AMC, The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.

Theatrical Domestic Movie Box Office,

April 29-May 1: Animation continued to animate the weekend box office and the top four films stayed in place.

The animated film, “The Bad Guys,” repeated at No. 1, with $16.1 million, in 4,042 theaters; $44.4 million, two weeks.

2. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” stayed in place at No. 2, with $11.3 million, in 3,801 theaters, $160.9 million, four weeks. 3. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” stayed in place, $8.3 million, in 3,962 theaters, $79.5 million, three weeks. 4. “The Northman” stayed in place, $6.3 million, in 3,284 theaters, $22.8 million, two weeks. 5. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” moved up one place, $5.5 million, in 2,213 theaters, $35.4 million, six weeks. 6. “The Lost City” moved up one place, $3.9 million, in 2,595 theaters, $90.8 million, six weeks. 7. “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” moved down two places, $3.9 million, in 3,036 theaters, $13.5 million, two weeks. 8. “Memory,” starring Liam Neeson in his latest paycheck, er, payback crime thriller, opening, $3.1 million, in 2,555 theaters. 9. “Father Stu” dropped one place, $2.2 million, in 2,476 theaters; $17.5 million, three weeks. 10. “Morbius,” $1.5 million, in 1,726 theaters, $71.4 million, five weeks.

Box office information from Box Office Mojo as of May 1 is subject to change.

Unreel,

May 6:

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”

PG-13: Sam Raimi directs Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Benedict Wong in the Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science-Fiction film. Dr. Stephen Strange opens the doorway to the multiverse, which includes alternate versions of himself that threaten Dr. Strange, Wong and Wanda Maximoff.

“Happening,”

R: Audrey Diwan directs Anamaria Vartolomei, Kacey Mottet Klein, Luàna Bajrami and Louise Orry-Diquéro in the Drama based on the novel by Annie Ernaux taking place in France during the 1960s.

“The Twin,”

No MPAA rating: Taneli Mustonen directs Teresa Palmer, Steven Cree, Barbara Marten and Tristan Ruggeri in the Horror film. A mother confronts the truth about her surviving twin son.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of May 1 is subject to change.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes