The Snowman

UK Release Date. 13 October 2017
Certification. 15
Running Time. 1 hour 59 mins
Director. Tomas Alfredson
Cast. David Dencik, Adrian Dunbar, Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, Jonas Karlsson, Val Kilmer, J.K. Simmons.
Rating. 30%

Review.

Following the success of Let The Right One In and the 2008 reboot of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Tomas Alfredson took on the directorial duties of The Snowman. The Snowman features the Jo Nesbø character, Detective Harry Hole, from the popular series of crime novels [The Snowman is the seventh instalment of the series (2012-2023)].

Set in Norway - predominantly Oslo and Bergen - Alfredson clearly attempts to capture the essence of other Nordic Noir films like The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, The Hunt or In Order Of Disappearance.

Sadly, the film wastes the talents of highly-watchable actors (Michael Fassbender, Toby Jones and Rebecca Ferguson) and dramatic Norwegian landscapes. The Snowman is a prime example of a film in which talented actors and an acclaimed director struggle to overcome a god-awful script, inexplicably appalling dialogue and an incoherent plot.

The Snowman apparently suffered from significant production issues from the outset. A revised screenplay was further depleted when large portions of the script were not filmed, leading to a disjointed, pedestrian narrative that feels incomplete, containing several subplots that fail to properly connect.

Short on subtlety or suspense, The Snowman instead opts for gratuitous violence or in one instant, the peculiar sight of a fully clothed Charlotte Gainsbourg grinding awkwardly on an indifferent Michael Fassbender. 

What should have been a thrilling Nordic Noir crime drama ends up as an incoherent and exhausting end product.