Shadows on the Wall | The Death of Robin Hood

The Death of Robin Hood

dir-scr Michael Sarnoski
prd Aaron Ryder, Andrew Swett, Alexander Black, Hugh Jackman
with Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgard, Murray Bartlett, Noah Jupe, Faith Delaney, Clive Russell, Jade Croot, Alfie Lawless, Katie Breen, Tabitha Smyth, Beau Thompson
release US 19.Jun.26,
UK 4.Sep.26
26/UK A24 2h02

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Catching up with Robin Hood late in life, this film is dark and grisly from the start. Writer-director Michael Sarnoski skilfully mixes introspective storytelling with spectacular settings, recreating the period to make us feel cold and wet. It's also resolutely downbeat, as each of the injured, worn out people is out for blood. Even with the mopey pace, the story is just intriguing enough to hold the interest.

In bleakly wintry 1247 England, young Wainwright (Croot) tracks down the ageing, isolated Robin (Jackman) seeking revenge. But he's used to this. Then when his old friend Little John (Skarsgard) turns up in need of help, Robin is tempted to write one last story. After a massacre, they rescue a little girl (Delaney) before heading to an island priory, where Sister Brigid (Comer) nurses the injured Robin back to health. And a leper (Bartlett) there challenges him to find patience and peace. Then troubled young Arthur (Jupe) arrives, recognising Robin from a horrific past encounter.

Human life has little value in this time and place, as Robin and John's ruthless behaviour demonstrates. Murder is merciless and gruesome, fights are scrappy and astonishingly brutal. This is sharply contrasted against Brigid's healing sanctuary for the injured and orphaned., even as she battles her own grim urges. Aside from the steady stream of gore, the running time is largely filled with almost whispered conversations charged with life-or-death undertones.

Jackman brings his terrific growling presence as Robin, a jaded old man who is still an able fighter. He also has a gruffly soft side that makes him endearing. Opposite him, Comer is nicely feisty, closely observing everything with a grave edginess that's fascinating. The unrecognisable Bartlett has some strong moments as this mysterious leper who offers Robin an unusual take on friendship. And Delaney and Jupe add badly needed youthful spark to the screen, along with underlying feelings we can identify with.

The murky imagery and fairly relentless suffering are sometimes hard to watch, as is the exhausted gaze of a man stubbornly refusing to come to terms with his failing body, violent instincts and the pain he has left in his wake. And perhaps it's even more difficult for Robin to accept his humanity, which has long been obscured by a legend that is largely fictional. So there are punchy ideas to pull us in, and the script ultimately makes some important notes about the essential pointlessness of revenge.

themes, language, violence 20.Aug.26

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