Review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) by Aakash G — 18 Jun 2012

[Swedish] So, do you like movies that blend together elements of the thriller, mystery and detective genres? How about ones with charming, smoking jacket-adorned patriarchs who live in palatial country manors; dark family secrets; old nazis; religious serial crimes of the "Seven"-esque nature; sexual torture that would make Takashi Miike proud; and female victimhood at the hands of nasty men justifying any means of retribution and/or revenge they see fit (Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right)? If so, then this is the film for you, my friends.

Based on an international bestseller, this one gives us a down and out reporter hero and a down and out bisexual heroine - a sort of alternate universe Mulder and Scully (from "The X-Files") team hunting down dark and dastardly deeds. The film has a great look - cinematography and lighting that perfectly complement the sinister mood of the narrative. One example: throughout the film beautiful shots of the natural and untainted Swedish landscape are put forward to not only give us a sense of place, but to also challenge and dare us to imagine what hides and lurks beneath (an old David Lynch trick). Sidenote: plenty of interesting faces populate the proceedings as well and are fun to look at.

This film throws in a little bit of everything...and I mean EVERYTHING, perhaps excessively so...but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Maybe you will too.