★★★★.5

starring: hugh jackman, jodie comer, murray bartlett, and bill skarsgard

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REVIEWER: lyall carter

Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.

Robin Hood has graced the silver screen for over one hundred years from Douglas Fairbanks portrayal of the English folk hero in the silent era to even New Zealand’s own Russell Crowe and the Disney animated classic portraying him as a fox, Robin Hood has dominated cinematic storytelling. But not like this.

The Death of Robin Hood is a completely fresh take on the myth and legend of Robin Hood. With some of the best production design you'll see this year and an incredible cast led masterfully by Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, The Death of Robin Hood explores the nature of myth-making with starkness, beauty, and rich emotional depth.

The Death of Robin Hood follows a grizzled, older Robin (Hugh Jackman) who, rather than being a noble hero, is a weary outlaw who has spent his life committing crimes and brutal murders. After a near-fatal battle, he is nursed back to health by a mysterious prioress named Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer), offering him a chance at redemption.

The first act of The Death of Robin Hood thrusts us head first into the violence that has dominated Robin and his victims' lives. And it is bloodied and horrifically fierce. But this lays the platform for this character study of Robin himself, his sins of unrepentant violence, but ultimately facing what he has done.

The re-telling of the myth, heading back more of the ‘truth’ of who Robin really was, is where the gold truly lies in The Death of Robin Hood. As he wrestles with his past the question is posed - can one really return back to some form of humanity after all that he has done? And the film doesn’t give us some pat answer but leaves that with us to hover in the back of our mind for days to come. The other question posed is how does story impact our lives and those around us? Myth making and memory can be used for good and for ill.

The production design is absolutely breathtaking which is wonderfully assisted by stunning cinematography that lets you drink in the beauty of the island of the priory and almost smell the violent skirmishes. Hugh Jackman disappears into the role of this rugged, broken Robin while Jodie Comer gives a sensitive yet towering filled with strength performance as Sister Brigid. 

With some of the best production design you'll see this year and an incredible cast led masterfully by Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, The Death of Robin Hood explores the nature of myth-making with starkness, beauty, and rich emotional depth.

★★★★.5