Displaying items by tag: The Death of Robin Hood movie

THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD

UK, 2026, 122 minutes, Colour.

Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgaard, Murray Bartlett, Noah Jupe, Faith Delaney.

Directed by Michael Sarnoski.

There has been a long, merry tradition of Robin Hood, robbing the rich and giving to the poor, happy days in Sherwood forest, Maid Marian, clashes with the Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy of Gosborne…

But in the opening of this film, an old and grizzled Robin Hood, a believable performance by Hugh Jackman, puts aside all these stories as myths, stressing that reality in the 13^th century was much different. In fact, the stories here were used as a basis for the 1976 film of Robin Hood in old age, Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn, Robin and Marian.

But, this version is starker, harsher. After the wiping away of merry presuppositions, there is a sequence of a young woman, wanting vengeance on Robin Hood, attacking him in the desolate mountains, her death. In fact, the first part of the film is very grim, violent re-enactments of Robin Hood, murders, robberies, torture. He is definitely an outlaw, no hero. Then he encounters Little John, who also has a different story, his settling down, family, but in trouble with usurpers, now calling on the aid of his friend.

More violence, an attack on the house, some graphic killings (as with arrows through eyes), but the older men wounded, Little John’s daughter, Margaret, surviving.

The latter part of the film, leading up to Robin Hood’s death, has him encountering a leper (Murray Bartlett) who urges him to go to an island presided over by a prioress, Bridget (Jodie Comer). She is a widow, looking after a range of children, made more genteel, apparently, then the original stories where she is something of a sorceress.

This changes the mood of the film, Robin Hood recovering, caring for Margaret, especially training her to make bows and for her arrows, hunting for food for the community, the outlaw having time to think back about his past, reliving his brutal crimes, consider some kind of repentance and redemption, having done something good for Margaret, and allowing the prioress to lead him, not to recover health, but a letting go of his past, the death of Robin Hood.

1. The title and expectations? Popular mythology over the centuries? The movie traditions?
2. The sources and stories, the grim aspects of the Robin Hood legend?
3. Filmed in Northern Ireland, the rugged landscapes, the mountains, valleys and rivers? The island and its landscapes? The musical score, the instruments, the ballad?
4. The immediate initial explanations, dispelling the mythologies about Robin Hood? The Middle Ages, the violence, outlaws, victims, the robbing the rich, a violent society?
5. The opening, the young woman, hungry, travelling, getting help, seeing the fire, the encounter with the stranger, her vengeance against Robin, his killing her?
6. The first part of the film, the visualising of the fighting, weapons, close-up of violent deaths? Impact, in the context of Robin Hood?
7. Hugh Jackman as Robin Hood, in old age, Haggard yet strong, his reputation, the violence, killings, victims, robbing?
8. The encounter with Little John, the mythology of Little John, the reality, accompanying Robin, the violence? His story, retiring, marrying, his daughter? The usurping family, his wanting vengeance?
9. The attack on the family, the continued violence, executions? Youngsters, the shooting of the arrows, through the eye? The family, the attack on Little John? His daughter, trying to save her?
10. Hendrie, the boy, trying to warn others, Robin shooting him, his getting through, his death?
11. The injuries, Little John, Robin, the household, the surrounding countryside?
12. There getting to the island, Brigid, as prioress, her own story, the death of her husband, the change from an evil prioress to a sympathetic prioress? Her leadership on the island, the range of youngsters, happy, playing?
13. Robin, his being tended to, the encounter with the leper, moving to the island, the care, Brigid? The truth about her husband? Robin and his helping, the scenes of hunting, Margaret helping?
14. Brigid, as a personality, religious, married, sexual longings, care?
15. Margaret, on the island, her personality, the trauma, adapting, a reliance on Robin, becoming something of a father figure?
16. The sequence with the leper, the discussions about Guy in Lisbon, enemy Robin, the leper revealing that he is guy, keeping it secret from Margaret, his wounds, death sequence?
17. Arthur, with Robin, to the mainland, after admitting he is from Hendrie’s family?
18. Robin, mellowing, acknowledging his violent career, beginnings of regrets, some repentance, the possibility of salvation? Through Brigid? Through Margaret? Brigid and the bloodletting?
19. The background of making bows and arrows, the material, the curve, the strength, the tension? Robin teaching this to Margaret, training her, her skills and accuracy?
20. The bloodletting, Robin revealing the truth to Brigid, her memories and the story of the slaughter? But her grateful attitude towards her new life on the island? Robin persuading her to continue the bloodletting until he dies?
21. Coming to his death, looking back over his life, the dream of John, acknowledgement, regrets, the help from Margaret, the final bow and arrow and her shooting?
22. A re-assessing of the Robin Hood legends?