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The cinematic scenes among the glaciers and pack ice, at once beautiful and terrifying, coupled with the meticulously recreated 19th-century ship scenes, are astounding.įrom the filth on deck after the whale flensing (obviously no seals or whales were harmed, but some of these scenes are still distressing, none more so than those of Drax rejoicing in a spray of blood as he harpoons a whale) to the claustrophobia of Sumner’s cabin as he sinks into his paranoid laudanum stupors, Haigh has conjured an evocative sensory experience that is both barbaric, nightmarish and utterly gripping.įind out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. This is a grisly and raw tale with thoughtfully developed characters, fascinating period points and well rendered settings. Directed by Andrew Haigh ( 45 Years, Looking), The North Water had a budget that allowed for extraordinary authenticity, including travelling to the real Arctic for four weeks to film in icy waters just south of the North Pole – further north, reportedly, than any drama has ever been filmed. One of The New York Times Book Reviews 10 Best Books of the Year, and named a Best Book of the Year by The Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal.

Book review the north water