My quick rating – 6.2/10. My quick rating – 6.2/10. It starts with some pretty bitter weather, a woman picking berries off a half-dead bit of shrubbery in Anno Domini 1247. Or 1247 AD, if you didn’t know what the letters stood for. She eventually collapses on the freezing ground, at which point a random dude finds her and sets up a fire. The old man turns out to be Hugh Jackman, who informs her that no one looks out for the meek and that she should make haste if she ever meets this Robin Hood. Sets the tone for The Death of Robin Hood.
Shortly after, she attempts to sneak up on him and discovers that this was excellent advice.
This is not the Robin Hood story where everyone has suspiciously perfect teeth, immaculate medieval clothing and enough energy to perform a sword fight after riding a horse for six hours. The Death of Robin Hood goes for something considerably darker and more grounded. Mostly grounded in mud, misery and what appears to be a complete lack of central heating.
There are some beautiful landscapes as Robin and his pal Edward, played by Bill Skarsgård, wander through the medieval countryside. The setting creates a world that feels immersive and authentic, although authenticity in this case seems to mean everyone is cold, exhausted, dirty and about three minutes away from a horrible death.
And when the violence does arrive, it is brutal. This isn’t the glorious Robin Hood of old, firing arrows while dramatically standing on horseback and stealing from rich people who deserve it for being rich. This Robin Hood has spent a lifetime committing crimes and killing people, and the film is much more interested in what that does to a man.
Gravely injured after a battle he believes will be his last, Robin ends up in the hands of a mysterious woman who offers him a chance at salvation. From there, the movie settles into its real purpose. Getting Robin to confront the consequences of his life and the considerable weight of his past.
And it takes its bloody time doing it.
This is very slow. Not “put the kettle on during a quiet scene” slow. More “the kettle has boiled, you’ve made the tea, finished the tea, washed the mug and Robin is still contemplating his life choices” slow.
But the slower approach does give the film room for some good dialogue and genuine reflection. Jackman is also a strong Robin Hood, even if he’s playing a version of the character who is less interested in swinging from ropes and more interested in wondering where it all went wrong.
It is a sincere movie, and I appreciate that. There is clearly an attempt to do something different with a character we’ve seen reinvented about as many times as Hollywood can find reasons to visit Sherwood Forest.
It may not be an instant classic, and the pacing will probably test your patience if you are expecting a traditional Robin Hood adventure. But it’s a solid, well-made and surprisingly thoughtful take on the character. Just don’t expect much swashbuckling. This is Robin Hood after the fun years, when the bills are due and the consequences have finally arrived.
