The Chestnut Man Review: A New Nordic Thriller From The Author Of The Killing | Kastanjemanden

Starring: Danica Curcic, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Iben Dorner

Creators: Søren Sveistrup, Dorte W. Høgh, David Sandreuter, Mikkel Serup

Director: Mikkel Serup and Kasper Barfoed

Streaming Platform: Netflix

Ratings: 3.5/5 (three and half star) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Here is filmyhype review of The Chestnut Man without betraying our satisfaction with this Danish miniseries in six episodes available on Netflix. Lost in an increasingly vast catalog, the new work taken from the novel of the same name, published in Italy by Rizzoli, by Soren Sveistrup, known on television for having written The Killing, is a pleasant discovery. Of course, this is not a shocking and revolutionary work for the television scene, but it is hard to find real flaws in this Nordic thriller with dark and mysterious shades. Capable of retaining the viewer without tiring him, assisted by a duration that is right for the type of story, The Chestnut Man is a solid story of mysteries and murders to be solved, of a murderer to be captured and of people looking for a solution to weight. of life.

The Chestnut Man Review: The Story

Isle of Møn, 1987. A policeman named Marius must warn a local farmer that his cows have escaped from the pen for the umpteenth time. Arriving at the farm he finds in front of him a gruesome sight: three brutally killed corpses and a little girl hidden under the cellar table, still alive, miraculously. Before he can save her, a figure kills Marius. On the shelves of the cellar some men made with chestnuts and matches observe the scene, as children do. We come to the present, in Copenhagen. Detective Naia Thulin, eager to change her life to spend more time with her daughter, is tasked with solving a murder case. To keep her company, reluctantly, Mark Hess, an agent of the Europol little loved by colleagues due to its lack of discipline and its unorthodox methods. Arriving at the crime scene, the two make a disconcerting discovery: the victim’s hand was amputated and a chestnut man was placed next to the body. Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Rosa Hartung, after a long elaboration of a mourning for the disappearance of her daughter Kristina, returns to work in Parliament to start her life over. But she will receive threats via e-mail and, even in her case, the past is destined to return, upsetting her daily life once again: Kristina’s footprints are those found on the chestnut man. a chestnut man was placed.

Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Rosa Hartung, after a long elaboration of a mourning for the disappearance of her daughter Kristina, returns to work in Parliament to start her life over. But she will receive threats via e-mail and, even in her case, the past is destined to return, upsetting her daily life once again: Kristina’s footprints are those found on the chestnut man. a chestnut man was placed. Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Rosa Hartung, after a long elaboration of a mourning for the disappearance of her daughter Kristina, returns to work in Parliament to start her life over. But she will receive threats via e-mail and, even in her case, the past is destined to return, upsetting her daily life once again: Kristina’s footprints are those found on the chestnut man.

The Review and Analysis

The two storylines will find a way to intersect and communicate with each other, giving life to an intertwining that, over the course of the six episodes, is engaging until the end, thanks to a constant though not high pace. Dwelling on the characters, Man manages to deepen the portrait of the protagonists of the story, giving them a three-dimensionality, which is satisfying to better enter the story. It must be said that the importance on the pure narrative is maintained, always giving priority to the case and to the continuation of the investigations, preferring a narrative construction linked to the thriller noir genre. Difficult to get bored, even if there is, especially in the central part, a certain slowdown before the solution. Played above all on tension, rather than on the harder and purer action, the Danish miniseries immediately knows how to build a gray and leaden atmosphere, which rests on the shoulders of the characters, forced to take on an existential weight, typical of certain narratives gender from northern Europe. The cast works of the series. In particular, the couple formed by Danica Curcic , in the role of Thulin, and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard , in that of Hess, is able to create an excellent alchemy that continues with the passing of the episodes.

It was said at the beginning of our review that The Chestnut Man, although pleasant and very cohesive in his way in what he wants to tell, does not presuppose changing the genre of belonging or revolutionizing a narrative model that works all too well. The Netflix miniseries seems to want to be part of a successful trend, that of Nordic thrillers that are popular both in literary works and in the audiovisual field, instead of renewing it. Consequently, especially towards the end, you can collide with certain dynamics that seem to have already been told in other shores, without a real new charge to bring to the story. Despite a satisfying ending, it is difficult to consider this miniseries memorable, even if it is capable, thanks to its most basic qualities, of being satisfying enough for a few evenings in the company of some thrills and some mystery. Arrived for the last time at the end credits, we know our killer and, unwittingly but with pleasure, we found ourselves victims of entertainment.

The Chestnut Man Review: The Final Verdict

Filmyhype conclusion of The Chestnut Man review by pointing out how this six-episode miniseries available on Netflix is ​​a solid thriller entertainment product. Despite some previously seen feeling, this Danish story promises basic entertainment, some thrills and a good gray vibe. A couple of protagonists who work properly (and worthily written) know how to involve the viewer who will find himself satisfied, even if he is aware of being in front of a product that is not entirely memorable and easy to consume.

• The atmosphere created by the direction.
• The couple of protagonists know how to involve the viewer.
• A story that, thanks to only six episodes, is told with taste.

What Not Worked

• Without wishing to revolutionize the genre, the series rests on a few too many narrative clichés that could upset the public.
• Despite the pleasure of viewing, when you reach the end you get the impression that it does not remain in the viewer’s memory.