ESP’s resident film critic Gavin Miller grabs the popcorn and settles on the sofa to check out the latest small screen release on Netflix…
This Swedish-language thriller was trending high in Netflix’s Top Ten in the past week – so it sounded like it was worth seeing what all the fuss was about.
Sadly the (just about passable) English-dubbed couple-being-hunted in the Swedish wilderness – initially with laser cross-hairs being directed at them through their tent from a faraway armed assailant – isn’t as clever as it thinks it is.
When Nadja (Rosario Dawson-lookalike Nanna Blondell) becomes pregnant, she and her husband David (Anastasios Soulis) attempt to rekindle their relationship with their impending responsibility, by travelling from Stockholm to the north of the country for a hiking trip to get some quality time together.
But their romantic break turns into a nightmare when it soon becomes clear that someone is tracking them in the darkness intent on harming the couple – and playing anxiety-busting ‘mind games’ to boot.
Despite David being frustrating throughout with his complete idiocy in certain situations, it proves to be serviceable enough – if you can get past the so-so dubbing – due to its fairly neat ‘twist’ final third when the main thread of the plot does a noteworthy 180 degree turn.
And for that it’s worth a long shot if you’re into this sort of thing – even though it doesn’t offer anything we haven’t really seen before.
The only real difference is that it’s Swedish…
ESP Rating: 2.5/5
Gavin Miller
Platform: Netflix
Cast: Nanna Blondell, Anastasios Soulis, Johannes Kuhnke, Anna Azcarate & Thomas Hanzon
Running Time: 1 Hr 26 Mins
Director: Alan Darborg