10 WTF Moments In Robert Eggers The Northman

10. Playing Hardball

Amleth is selected from the slaves to participate in a game of Knattleikr, or Hardball. Unbeknownst to him, the game's objective is to be the last man standing. His lovely teammate jokingly hints at this before the game starts, but the enemy team quickly takes him down. Amleth catches on quickly and manages to defend his way to the final showdown.

As the final match begins, his hefty opponent charges at him but not before his juvenile step-brother (nobody knows) decides to grab the ball and run with it, making him the new target. Realising this and seeing the rather giant ogre of a man running after his kin, Amleth steps in and headbutts the man to a bloody pulp.

This scene is traumatic, and all you want to do is strangle the young boy, but you wouldn't expect the comedy that also comes with it. There are moments at the beginning of each rematch where the men are lined up on opposite sides of the field where you can't help but laugh. The use of silence amplifies the power cries the men give off before running at each other. It's all a bit neanderthal, but a crucial part of the story as Amleth essentially saves his uncle's child.