The Northman: The meeting with the He-witch

[@K50ATTACK]

The he-witch could be seen as a manifestation of Oden. Oden kept Mimer’s severed head for advice and stuff

[@gregorypruteanu5488]

Мимир это друг Одина, голову которому отрубили ваны. Что же Одину еще делать?

[@JohnDoe-bh2lp]

@@gregorypruteanu5488 Germanic Nordic peoples like the ancestors of the Swedes conquered you slavs

[@Petey0707]

"Speak, Witch!" "So be it, Slave!" I love their little banter, they're both lowly and nothing, despite having nobility in their blood. One the nobility of men. The other the nobility of the dead.

[@SwissCheese667]

I also found this little exchange of insults amusing.

[@elnoare]

I love how it's insulting but also the truth lmao

[@thechristsknight7758]

"Alas, poor Heimir. I knew him He-Witch! A fellow of infinite jest. He had borne me on his back at housand times. And now..."

[@greyman419]

The whole movie is fucking metal.

[@Aldaz108]

Perfect description. As a huge geek for this time period, I loved this film. Everything from the way people spoke, how they were portrayed living & the costumes were on point. It's criminal how underrated it is the story, again is also great.

[@NJRacer623]

Is this time period where a lot of Scandinavian metal bands get their inspiration from?

[@babawill14]

Nothing metal about it. More like neo-folk. Metal is cringe. This movie is based.

[@yani2499]

Primitive

[@thechristsknight7758]

The Metal version of "Hamlet"...

[@GrandChessboard]

William DeFoe did a great job as the skeleton in this!

[@SpicyRikers]

Genuinely thought it was him in the thumbnail xD

[@daveybass655]

Ha !

[@chrisdubois7688]

You made my day

[@rexcelsior5415]

@@SpicyRikers it’s his character’s severed head in the movie, so technically you thought right.

[@system0fadowner251]

Fun fact he really decapitated himself and preserved his head for this scene. Dafoes commitment to every role is insane

[@TheDarkIllumination]

1:21 Alas, Poor Heimir. I knew him well, He-Witch-io. A man of infinite jest.

[@thechristsknight7758]

"He had borne me on his back at housand times. And now... How abhorred my imagination is! My gorge rims at it. "

[@NoComment-xd9qp]

Among the Norse magic was the domain of women and men who practiced it were shunned and outcast. Men who practiced what was considered a female art were seen as "ergi" and transgressive and were treated hostility. Finns were an exception. They had male magicians. but the Northman is roughly based on the Danish story of Amleth (aka Hamlet).

[@theoutlawjeezywales6217]

He's actually wearing the oval brooches that women wore.

[@JiGCop]

In this film, everything is bad, without exception (not to mention what kind of fashion, to portray the Vikings, the Scandinavian neo-Gothic fashion is taken). The swords of the Ulfbert manufactory were not forged from Damascus steel (as shown in the video), it was melting pot crucible steel. The clinical stupidity about the status of a berserker in the kingdoms of the Scandinavians, I think, is not even worth mentioning.

[@NoComment-xd9qp]

@Hlord1109 aha! thanks for the correction! I think you're overstating the Norwegian origins of the story. Denmark is part of the story too. There's more than one version of the story. Amleth was the Prince of Denmark in at least one of them and of course he was Prince of Denmark in Shakespeare's retelling of the tale. Finns have their own (and arguable better) stories. Very different languages and cultures back then. The Finns aren't Norse and Norse aren't Finns. You are correct. I'll have to remember that.

[@NoComment-xd9qp]

​@Hlord1109 Dunno for sure but I think outside of the movie it's "Amleth Prince of Denmark."

[@JiGCop]

@Hlord1109 What is this, some kind of joke? :) The film is a mockery in the historical aspect, it does not reflect any history confirmed by historical material sources, nor is it based even on the sagas and everyday life described and revealed in them. The script is also bad, from an artistic point of view. It was filmed by fools and amateurs according to the script of fools and amateurs. This is pop music, not military-historically gothic peplum. As for weapons, Damascus steel at that time was of poor quality and the best Korolingian swords were forged from crucible steel (this is exactly what the main character should have received). I don’t even mention that they didn’t know how to etch steel then so that the pattern becomes visible (the pattern of Damascus steel is beautiful, it was left to improve visualization). They found Hring Schwert - a sword with a ring from the Vendel era and were going to reforge it. It had to be made from crucible steel. They took the features of the life of the Middle Ages of continental Europe and shifted them to be the Scandinavians of the gloomy Middle Ages. If someone sneezed in Gotland, then the next day it became known in Norway (in other words, the hero could not travel the way he did in the film). And of course, when a Jarl or a Konnung teaches his son to howl like a dog, it is very realistic and describes the life of the gloomy Middle Ages well :) They had a budget and actors, they could have made a good film, but in the end, they just wasted money.

[@hrafnagu9243]

I like how he's performing seiðr, woman's magic, and they added in the dwarves (brooches) holding up his apron, as a woman would wear. Nice touch.

[@Petey0707]

Is that why he acts like he’s pregnant and having a child when summoning the dead?

[@hrafnagu9243]

@@Petey0707 I didn't see that as him acting pregnant and giving birth. He was just seizing.

[@conorbowen3360]

This is an excellent reimagination of the famous scene of Hamlet examining the skull of the jester Yorick

[@joeenright6891]

Hamlet was based on this epic, and then the movie version of the epic took inspiration from hamlet! Crazy

[@heathenhammerfeld148]

Amleth inspired Hamlet 😉

[@plus_sign]

it was funny when this was in theaters and everyone was like "SUPPORT ORIGINAL MOVIES" like bruh this is one of the oldest, and most copied superhero stories ever lol

[@camdawg8062]

@@plus_sign if you think a) this is a superhero story or b) that Amleth, one of the primary OG stories, the basis for hamlet, is not original, you’re why we never get anything cool in cinema.

[@plus_sign]

@@camdawg8062 sorry, snowflake, this is indeed an adaptation and a superhero story

[@samuel56551]

Not all magic was considered the domain of women . In Havamal Odin mentions various magical arts that were obviously used by men . Galdra (incantatory magic) and runic magic were widely practised by men , referred to as "vitki" , a word with similar roots to "wizard" . Seidr , which was concerned with prophecy , shapeshifting and working one's will at a distance , was more associated with women . Although , Odin also learnt seidr from Freyja .Practitioners of seidr were said to be able to kill at a distance , which may have been seen as cowardly , therefore unmanly . Also , as here , seidr involved receptivity to spirits ; a passive state that may have been considered more suited to women .

[@NoComment-xd9qp]

Interesting. The He-witch I think is still trespassing into the female kind of magic. He becomes receptive and passive while channeling the spirit of Heimir. So he is practicing seidr.

[@Egill2011]

Odin himself is the God of magic and sorcery. Havamal is indeed a clearest manifestation thereof. Egill Skallagrimsson was a powerful sorcerer too (besides being a great warrior and famous viking and Iceland's greatest skald).

[@necromancer-nan]

too much words. i woul've simply pointed out that the wizard in clash of clans is a man

[@samuel56551]

@@NoComment-xd9qp As I said , in this clip , the practitioner is manifesting receptivity to spirits . Seidr was practised by men aswell as women , although males being involved was probably seen as disreputable . Odin himself is spoken of as being adept in seidr , aswell as all other magical arts .

[@samuel56551]

@@necromancer-nan The term "wizard" is generally only used of men .

[@tobiashansen488]

Before this movie my favorite viking movie was the 13 warrior, but this movie is truly the best viking movie ever made!

[@aaronmann8051]

Did he say bound by the bones of the Jotunar, that's fucking sick

[@jackdotchel2504]

My favorite scene in an incredible movie. Well researched, well done, and well acted all around.

[@zoomin9397]

only thing I have a problem with in this scene is the ægishjálmur the he-witch has on his hat, and that the guy is obviously wearing feminine clothes (for the time) but I guess it makes sense if he's a "he-witch". still love the movie though.

[@Loddfafnisodr]

Name a single thing that's based on research in this garbage scene.

[@TNOfan4093]

@@Loddfafnisodr You've never read Neil Price ?

[@moidalize]

Tell your guidance counselor you want to be a he-witch when you grow up.

[@dennisyoung4631]

“You will need to go to the dark places, and then speak at the fool’s gate,” he said. “That is the road of the *Man-Witch.”*

[@josetapia9606]

@@dennisyoung4631 "At the fool’s gate" So basically the Principal's office. Got it

[@baileydeverell1175]

4:22 "Okay so I'll bill your insurance. See you in six months!"

[@h4ll0w33npumk1n]

Willem DaFoes likeness on that prop severed head is absolutely mortifying. This movie is jacked up, Nicole Kidman was the most disturbing thing about it.

[@DuncanUdaho67]

A sword so badass that it has its own theme song LMAO I love this movie

[@RupturedGrid]

I like watching movies on shrooms. This one was so intense I had to take an intermission shower lol. Great brutal movie.

[@Jhhuhhhytf8]

lmao showers really do cure bad trips

[@eckg7592]

RuptureGrid check out Valhalla Rising if you haven't already. Great trip movie.

[@1379andre]

Brother it's a Heavy scene bone dry sober!

[@TwinklesTheChinchilla]

I see Randy Quaid is still up to his old tricks...

[@oleghrozman4172]

Interesting to see how scandinavian mages are different from finnish. Finnish traditions are closer to hungarian mythology. Because both finish and hungarian tribes came from Ural mountains and east. Their tradition is much more like syberian-shamanic. Finish and hungarian mages/shamas were called - "TALTOS" (or "tatos"). The name "taltos" came from "Taltoslo" - it's the name of sacred stag/deers in finish and hungarian mythology.

[@Egill2011]

Our good old Scandinavian Odinistic shamanism in action.

[@ellugerdelacruz2555]

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him Horatio."

[@Egill2011]

@@ellugerdelacruz2555 In Shakespeare's times it was just poetical sadness. In pagan Scandinavia it is pure necromancy and shamanism. The very essence of the cult of Odin.

[@el_archimago]

@@Egill2011 Yeah, a lot of people forget that Odin is literally a necromancer

[@gregorypruteanu5488]

​@@el_archimagoВотан Бог Войны, но не колдовства

[@el_archimago]

@@gregorypruteanu5488 шутишь что-ли? Война вообще только побочный продукт от его деятельности.

[@tyrannicalgod6064]

One of my favourite medieval movies

[@ADE1000SON]

Medievil??

[@DJFLIPNO]

That's a old video game in my old days ps1 to be precise...

[@mk13ultra4th]

@@ADE1000SON The Viking age was from around 700 to 1070. So yes, medieval is correct.

[@Egill2011]

@@ADE1000SON Technically, it is mediaeval. The potent spirit of pagan times is discernible though.

[@ellugerdelacruz2555]

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him Horatio."

[@plus_sign]

watching this side by side with the previous Willem scene, the protagonist looks like his younger self here... vulnerable, reverent 🔥

[@ellugerdelacruz2555]

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him Horatio."

[@aina-louisacarter4201]

I like how the he-witch is wearing women’s clothing

[@bimerbomer2241]

that movie will meet fate of BLADE RUNNER( by R.Scott) , poeple will love it and undrestand for 1 generation, it is pure poetry.....

[@TheVampyr]

It seems like nobody made the connection, that the “Witch” is Odin in disguise to aid Amleth on his journey.

[@dennisyoung4631]

Never saw this movie, but I *have* written of *Man-Witches.* (“All witches are Male, by virtue of their familiar spirits, no matter their form.”) This one sounds like either a really strong prewar witch, or a lesser preflood witch. The current ones wish they could do this well.

[@elnoare]

I forget their exact term/name, but it was actually a practice back then. I wish I remembered more about it

[@hobosgameplays6607]

2:57 after this intimate moment together with his new found head friend, they both went outside and lit up a ciggy together.

[@bipedalhominid6815]

Imaging how wacked out you'd be if you were in a cave with a fire smoking you the fuck out lol

[@Altanzar1990]

Oh my, he's a chaos worshiper!

[@m_fairie]

Get the flamer… the heavy flamer…

[@themigratingcoconut562]

3:13 Original Pirates of the Caribbean moment

[@rv2167]

this film's awesome fuckedupness was great

[@jafetdiaz]

0:27 I love the way he sings, that technique. How's it called? Sounds just like mongolian singing but different

[@craigsurette3438]

Throat singing or overtone singing is how you call it in English. There are multiple different kinds of Mongolian/Central Asian throat singing with different names etc for the different techniques Other places in Europe throat sung as well. Today,Georgian and Sardinian people throat sing, and it is hypothesized also that Norse people did as well,based on Arab writers describing how horrible their singing was, and that they "howled like wild dogs from within their throats"

[@BOPBOPBOPBOPBOPBOPOB]

@@twangyorpheus7891 nope, the singers of Heilung say they use Tibetan style throat singing. There’s actually no solid evidence of throat singing in old Scandinavia.

[@twangyorpheus7891]

@@BOPBOPBOPBOPBOPBOPOB thanks for the correction. I made the mistake of assuming heilung did a Norse style. I’m not incredibly knowledgeable on this subject

[@jiveturkey3352]

If u like how he sings I highly recommend u check out the band heilung. They have a couple albums and amazing live performances. Look up there live performances. Same style singing

[@mwol5473]

The Germanic peoples throat sung

[@jstewlly4747]

Listen ima Black man and this is the best movie based on Myths I swear God of war for movies it was that good

[@yuvarudra6602]

He-Man was a He-Witch ????? 😨😨😨😨😨😨

[@allsmilesguy]

People calling this movie mid are insane

[@laszlokatai1955]

Indeed. This film is a parody of itself. It's formulaic, trite, hackneyed, overdone, overloaded, stupid, stolen, commercial. Every minute of it was a waste!

[@allsmilesguy]

@@laszlokatai1955 of all the cheap “films” we get today, one that took real passion is a parody? It may not hold a candle to some of the best but for something recent it’s certainly far above the rest. I just can’t wrap my head around you take. Can you elaborate as to why you think it’s so bad?

[@laszlokatai1955]

@@allsmilesguy Dude! I could write a 400-page essay on the film's flaws. But the bottom line is: it was a nonsense! Historical vs. non-historical? Sacred journey vs. real/fake madness? Conscious career building vs. lack of self-management? The concept was bouncing back and forth! It wasn't a story of a V-XI century Jutland, but how a NYer yuppie according the rednecks to imagines V-XI century Denmark! On the plus side, the actors were good. (Except A. Skarsgård.) But the script, and direction, is a huge pile of bullshit!

[@imbombur]

@@laszlokatai1955 so you just came here to hate on it? Why go out of your way to comment on a clip from a movie you despise?

[@laszlokatai1955]

@@imbombur Because it could have been a good film. Wasted opportunity! Sacrificing merit for worthlessness, for profit!

[@onedeadcat]

I think I know how much he sacrificed...

[@matt8399]

Dont know about you guys but if anyone can do a berserk live action (other than the guys that did GOT) its these guys.

[@OLDDOGE12]

Someone did mention one of the fights in this movie did open up like a Dark Souls boss battle.

[@hogarthheathan]

never heard about this film, looks good, anyone have any other good under the radar recommendations?

[@bradleydavies4781]

It's actually the hewitch.

[@m_fairie]

Sorry. I thought when i did my initial notes a few months ago, i thought i remembered reading 'Shewitch', which i just wrote off as being a weird way to refer to male seidr users. Just, double checked. You're right. cheers for pointing it out. 👍

[@bradleydavies4781]

Or you could call himwitch .

[@andreasthemetalpunk9552]

@@bradleydavies4781 Or just the sejdman.

[@andreasthemetalpunk9552]

@@m_fairie Sejdman.

[@bradleydavies4781]

@@andreasthemetalpunk9552 That sounds better .

[@sleepyfaryna]

“Hello poppy”

[@MonstersNotUnderTheBed]

The Philistines assembled and came and camped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all the Israelites and they camped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and badly shaken. So Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim [used like lots by the priest to determine the will of God] or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who is a medium [between the living and the dead], so that I may go to her and ask her advice.” His servants said to him, “There is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.” So Saul disguised himself by wearing different clothes, and he left with two men, and they came to the woman at night. He said to her, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up [from the dead] for me [the spirit] whom I shall name to you.” But the woman said to him, “See here, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off (eliminated) those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. So why are you laying a trap for my life, to cause my death?” Then Saul swore [an oath] to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.” So the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed with a loud voice; and she said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but [tell me] what do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a divine [superhuman] being coming up from the earth.” He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, wrapped in a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid respect [to him]. Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are making war against me, and God has left me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you to make known to me what I should do.” Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? The Lord has done [to you] just as He said through me [when I was with you]; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover, the Lord will also put Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me [among the dead]. Indeed, the Lord will put the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 28:4‭-‬19 AMP

[@korpiz]

He-whom

[@peternedilsky9851]

It's pronounced 'He-Bitch'.

[@Lycurgus1982]

What a life.

[@tigerlillybell75]

Cool warlock.

[@mitche5007]

The meeting with the sand-wich? :)

[@Sindrijo]

Ingvar E. Sigurðsson

[@allaware1971]

2:55 I was expecting him to shit his pants. They couldn't just go with "magician" or "sorcerer" ?

[@holden3016]

I prefer the term manwhich

[@dkoz8321]

He-witch is called a Shaman, a Wizard, or a Warlock and rarely a Paladin. Depending on the game you are playing.

[@erikswanson5753]

It's too bad that Christianity had to come along and destroy the Old Ways. I'm of Scandinavian origin on my father's side and the idea of worshipping Odin rather then the baby Jesus lying in his "manger" sounds pretty awesome.

[@RS54321]

The 'old ways' led to death and destruction. I'm of Scandinavian origin as well, and I see the demonic behind these false gods, including Odin. Jesus became a man and defeated death, which is even more awesome. Read Revelation 19:11 to 21:8 for an amazing description of Jesus and what's in store for all who do evil. Choose today whom you will follow, man-made gods or the Alpha and Omega.

[@ellugerdelacruz2555]

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him Horatio."

[@ryanorionwotanson4568]

Jesus is the one treading the wine press of gentile heads! Christianity is a conspiracy against us gentiles to enslave and destroy our ancestral traditions. The order of the dragon monster god Yahweh 👺👹 to blot out Amalek, every man woman and child, is why Europe is being ethnically cleansed. Our ancestral Gods want to help us survive and thrive.

[@satyrsak]

The Norse gods were god, not demons. This decade many culture and many gods that were right for them. Don't be ignorant and bad mouth other's beliefs because they are different than you own. You don't have the monopoly on the truth.

[@ellugerdelacruz2555]

@@satyrsak To be fair, everyone wishes that the Norse Myths were archived better before the arrival of Catholicism. The Irish had better luck in that case.

[@shiningfaceofluzon5594]

Isn't that just called a Warlock

[@m_fairie]

If you have a look through the comments, you’ll find a more complete answer to why he’s called the He-witch, but the short answer is that’s how he’s labelled in the script and it’s historically accurate to the social stigmas of male magic users in Norse societies.

[@xxfalconarasxx5659]

Historically, "witch" and "warlock" were gender neutral terms. It wasn't until around the 15th-16th Century that English speakers started distinguishing the terms by gender. So the old man in this scene being called a "witch" is accurate. Not to mention that "warlock" is an incredibly insulting term, as it historically refers to a person who lies and deceives. The word translates to "oathbreaker". There are people TODAY who practice witchcraft, and both the men and women prefer to be called witches. If you call any of them a warlock, they'll probably punch you in the mouth. If you really want to, you can call a male witch a "wicker" or "witcher". You might be familiar with the latter word, as it is also the title of a popular book series.

[@Loddfafnisodr]

@@xxfalconarasxx5659 Ridiculous. _Wicce_ is Old English for "(female) witch". "Wicker" is just something you made up on the spot.

[@calebwalters1654]

Hello puppy 🔥 chills

[@TheBluespekk]

Why not just call him a warlock?

[@m_fairie]

He is specified in the script as “He-witch”. He is a male shaman of sorts, or Seiðr user (although I think technically speaking here, his communion with the dead would place his use of magic under the category of galdrar rather than Seiðr. Simplifying: Galdrar is like deception and support magic where Seiðr is what we might consider combat magic, at least in a contemporary sense.) Male magic users are stigmatised in Norse societies as being effeminate, and since witches typically female, the term he-witch fits. Because as the story states “never seek the secrets of women, but heed them always.”

[@TheBluespekk]

@@m_fairie oh okay thanks for the clarification. I wasn't too familiar with the different Gods etc in this movie only the witchcraft aspect but that makes sense.

[@mschell8022]

In history, "warlock" was used as a derogatory term

[@zoebarrow9312]

Good job bro from your lil sis 🤟👅

[@yuritheimmortalmma]

Its not all magic, I've been in a simular ritual like this (without the head) and Ive seen the witch man do things I'll never be able to explain such as control the fire and not get burned.

[@maximilianohernandez8462]

Hello, where did you have that experience, do yo know the name of the ritual?

[@yuritheimmortalmma]

@maximiliano hernandez it was in Brazil back in 2005, and it was an unbanda ritual

[@yuritheimmortalmma]

@maximiliano hernandez I also speak to the dead, and a couple of them have followed me since I was a child. I have planty of stories to tell

[@maximilianohernandez8462]

@@yuritheimmortalmma ok, umbanda, real deal.

[@W47689]

What do the dead say about me?

[@Ivan_Rom-Zap]

Да, крутой меч.. то ли дело Персы и Арамы, с их литым булатом

[@bethany5984]

Is that Willem Defoe?

[@chaosax0lotl]

The head is supposed to be him

[@eddiemoran8044]

Indeed it is willed Defoe as the voice of the head

[@erikswanson5753]

Is this movie any good?

[@ayse6602]

it's more than good

[@ismaelms9778]

best viking stuff in the tv for now

[@timothywilson1493]

Northman MEET my 460mag…

[@snichsnikers9489]

Debl est? ,📢 Liebe Schade

[@hansblitz7770]

Vvomenx are only prizes.