Reviews are now out for A24’s R-rated dark period drama “The Death of Robin Hood” and, sadly, they appear to run a little soft for the project directed by Michael Sarnoski (“Pig”).
With 23 reviews counted, the film has garnered a 65% score and 6.7/10 average rating on Rotten Tomatoes. On Metacritic, the film has garnered a 62/100.
The story is described as a grounded, visceral and darker reimagining of the classic Robin Hood tale and will see an older version of the title character grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder.
Now he’s a battle-worn loner who finds himself gravely injured and in the hands of a mysterious woman who offers him a chance at salvation. Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett and Noah Jupe staar.
Here’s a sampling of reviews:
“[Michael Sarnoski’s] latest isn’t deep enough or captivating enough to make the same impact as his previous movies, but it’s a mature work that makes a valid point, and Hugh Jackman gives an excellent lead performance…” – William Bibbiani, The Wrap
“Sarnoski’s deconstruction of popularized myth comes forged in shocking violence and poignant introspection, yielding another deeply affecting story of meeting death on your own terms…” – Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting
“Its heady mix of mournful drama and murderous action certainly distinguish it from the litany of other Robin Hood films in existence…” – Jim Vejvoda, IGN
“[Hugh Jackman] is a godsend in the title role. Much like Cage’s sheer unpredictability elevated every moment of Pig, so, too, does Jackman’s eternally sturdy on-screen presence…” – Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail
“The Death of Robin Hood holds our attention for the sheer severity of its reinvention, the rooted, hessian-rough vividness of its ruined world, and its earnest, complex preoccupation with matters of the soul…” – Guy Lodge, Variety
“Pushing too hard to give The Death Of Robin Hood a sense of gravitas, Sarnoski suffocates his story rather than letting its palpable agony envelop the viewer. This Robin Hood subverts our expectations, but he never gets to breathe…” – Tim Grierson, Screen
“Unfortunately, the filmmaker is so keen to make good on his premise that The Death of Robin Hood becomes a tedious slog. You spend most of the film’s overlong running time wishing that its main character would die a quicker death…” – Frank Scheck, THR
“It’s easy enough to admire the evident technical merits, yes, but difficult to find any element that invites a viewer into the specific, soulful experience of the characters….” – Marshall Shaffer, The Playlist
Clocking in at 123 minutes, the film is set to open in cinemas next Friday.
