Movie Review: ‘The North’

by | Apr 22, 2026 | Featured Post, Movie Reviews, Movies | 0 comments


Greetings again from the darkness. Perhaps we can all agree that hiking is not best served as a spectator sport. Sure, there have been other hiking movies, including WILD (2014) as Cheryl Strayed (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) takes on a solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Yet almost by definition, a hike is meant, at a minimum, to help clear one’s head and, at its best, allow a connection with nature as one tries to center themselves from the stress of life. Writer-director Bart Schrivjer w-d (not his first hiking movie) has seemingly captured these elements of hiking better than others.

We hear a phone call between close buddies Chris and Lluis, and then flash forward ten years as Chris (Bart Harder) and Lluis (Carles Pulido) meet up to hike the 600 km (370+ miles) of the West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail. The plan is for 28 days on the journey and a hope that the friendship can be reignited. See, as it does, life has happened in much different ways for these two gents. Chris is attached to his phone in order to keep up with a business that depends on him. Lluis quit working as a wedding videographer and now seems a bit lost (though committed to the journey). Chris and his significant other are preparing to have a kid, while Lluis has no interest in starting a family – despite not really knowing what he wants.

One thing beyond debate is the spectacular beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Schrivjer often chooses to film Chris and Lluis from afar to give a sense of how small they are in comparison to this majestic environment. As you might imagine, there are no shortage of challenges for the two friends. Rain, midges, rocks, hills, injury, secrets spilled, and even crossing paths with other hikers are some of what they face. Periodic games of Uno in the small, shared tent help pass the time as their bodies rest. They even choose to scrap GPS and go “old school” with a paper map … although it appears they cheat a bit on this one.

Chris and Lluis periodically have minor tiffs as you would expect, and it becomes clear that both are in need of nature’s healing power … right along with their friendship which has drifted over the years. Each viewer will likely have their own perspective of what to take from the film. Some will probably find it slow and a bit dull, while others will attach to the self-reflective atmosphere provided by the breathtaking views and minimal dialogue.

Opening in UK cinemas on April 24, 2026

David Ferguson
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