Robert Eggers Ranked
Can you have a ranked article when a director has only released three feature length films? Yes, because I say so. I’m writing this whilst mourning the loss of Eggers’ remake of Nosfertu that’ll now apparently never be. Anya Taylor Joy as the famed vampire would’ve blessed cinema screens worldwide. Kidding! But I blame Morbius for this. And Jared Leto. Always Jared Leto.
Robert Eggers is arguably one of the best working directors of our time and now with the Northman in cinemas, his genius is just further cemented in the minds of horror, fantasy and epic Viking revenge flick fans alike. A disclaimer before we get into the ranking, just because a film is last, does not mean at all that it is bad. It simply just happens to be my least favourite of the three. It’s like how Rushmore is at the bottom of my Wes Anderson ranking. It seems totally unacceptable but in reality when we get down to it, it really doesn’t matter in the slightest.
3. The Northman
This gruelling, blood soaked Hamlet, Lion King type thing is a feast for the eyes and the heart. But most importantly, it’s fun. This could have so easily slid down the slippery path of boring, overly long historic films. But made with the gentle hands of the auteur Eggers, this was always an unlikely conclusion. It unquestionably has a defined style, with vast grey landscapes tinged with the blood of Amleth’s killings however, what I think it lacks in comparison with it’s predecessors is the haunting ambiguity that Eggers does so well. At times, The Northman momentarily sinks into repetitiveness, to then be clawed back by the overwhelming gore that blinds spectators to any scenes that take the pace to a grinding halt. This highlights of the film were undeniably the action scenes, Alexander Skarsgård perfect for the role of angry, deeply vengeful Viking and despite the slaughter shown in said scenes, I found myself smiling because it’s what the cinema experience is supposed to be; unequivocal enjoyment that can be found nowhere else.
(4/5)
2. The Witch
With his first film Eggers created a shift in the horror genre with his creeping folktale story and Anya Taylor Joy firmly securing her place in Hollywood with also her first feature. The story works so well because of how contained it is — a small household surrounded by trees with a runtime that clocks in at an easy 92 minutes. But the punch that it packs in that quick hour and a half leaves a mark on one’s psyche. As typical, with the rest of Eggers’ films, ‘The Witch’ doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares and blood but instead on holding up a mirror to a human’s real deepest fears. Without spoiling anything, the final scene is easily one of the most visually and emotionally impressive endings I’ve personally seen in horror cinema. So, you should probably check it out.
(4/5)
- The Lighthouse
This film just has this insane, psychedelic and deliciously aggressive vibe that aligned perfectly with my taste of filmmaking. The stunning black and white cinematography and incredible performances from both Willem Defoe and Robert Pattinson form an eerie masterpiece and Defoe’s monologue will, in my books, go down as one of the best acting achievements in cinematic history. Not only is it sinister, it’s also completely hilarious. It’s certainly an acquired sense of humour but viewed through the correct lens, this film is not only a psychological horror, but also a comedy.
(4.5/5)
So yeah, obviously they’re all good films and the ranking isn’t necessarily determined by the quality but instead personal taste. The only downside to Eggers’ filmography is that it’ll never have that Nosfertu remake. But I guess I’ll just have to get over that.
