Viking The Movie ((free)) | TRUSTED |

However, if you need a fast pace or a clear "good guy" to root for, look elsewhere. Vladimir is a historical figure who did terrible things (the film does not shy away from the Siege of Chersonesus or the political murders).

But the 2016 Russian epic Viking (originally Викинг ) isn't that movie. And thank Odin for that.

When you hear the word "Viking," your brain probably defaults to a predictable image: a grimy brute with braided hair, swinging an axe while screaming for Valhalla. Hollywood has given us that version for decades.

What follows is a grim, muddy, and shockingly violent crawl toward the throne of Kiev.

Directed by Andrey Kravchuk, this isn't a story about raiding. It’s a story about The Plot: A Prince in the Mud Forget Ragnar Lothbrok. Viking follows the historical figure of Prince Vladimir of Novgorod (played with a weary, stone-faced intensity by Danila Kozlovsky). After his father’s death, Vladimir is cast out by his murderous half-brother Yaropolk. Forced to flee over the frozen sea, he returns not as a hero, but as a desperate exile.

Stay tuned for next week’s post: “How to Build a Longship in Your Backyard (Don’t).”