The Death of Robin Hood Movie Review

Robin Hood (Hugh Jackman), the archer, is a folklore built around an English legend. You know, the guy who steals from the rich and gives to the poor? There’s nothing to prove he was a real person. Real or not, the stories surrounding him fascinated, and this film does, as well, but in a very dark, brooding way. The first part of this film is incredibly violent, but it needs to be to clear your mind of who you have always thought Robin Hood was.

Robin himself tells us that he spread the lies about himself to give the people hope in the dark world. He spread stories to help people find meaning where there was none. He was a killer and stole for the love of it. The heroism and goodness didn’t exist. There was “none more wicked than he.” He wouldn’t think twice about putting an arrow through the back of the head of a child if need be… which he does, often enough to have forgotten how much bad he has done. He had done a lot of terrible things to the innocent. It seemed to give him pleasure. Mercy wasn’t a part of his game. The Robin Hood (that you’ve heard about and loved) and his band of merry men aren’t a part of what A24 has in store for you here, though we do get to meet Little John, or Edward (Bill Skarsgård), as he’s now known.

Edward has a farm, a wife, and a child. Unfortunately, some men have come and taken what he loves most. He is filled with hate and anger about it, and plans revenge. Of course, he doesn’t consider that it’s vengeance finding him after what he has done to bring death to his door. Robin welcomes death and, seeing the odds, decides to help Edward. Edward, in turn, ends up having to take Robin to Sister Brigid’s priory, which is governed by a prior or prioress. Brigid (Jodie Comer) heals him and speaks to him. There’s a chemistry between them you can’t help but notice, and the movie is almost worth watching for their scenes together, alone. She, Edwards daughter Margaret and the Leper (Murray Bartlett) are excellent characters that had they not been a part of the story, the movie would have been the poorer for it.

Director Michael Sarnoski, of the very impressive Nicholas Cage film, “Pig,” and “A Quiet Place: Day One,” is an incredible storyteller, and at the age of only thirty-one. I’m looking forward to many more years of his phenomenal work that’s undoubtedly on the way. I hope he learns to tighten up the story some so it’s not so long. It’s the one complaint I have that had me a bit weary a few times.