Review of The Snowman (2017) by Nic S — 05 Aug 2018

Intriguing but flawed.

Harry Hole is a detective in the Oslo Police, and a highly successful one too. However, he has been having some personal problems of late, resulting in him turning to alcohol and prescription drugs. The lack of a case to solve isn't helping either. Then a woman disappears and another is murdered. This is looking like the work of a serial killer, one with a particular calling card - a snowman.

Intriguing but flawed. The plot had great potential - an edgy murder-mystery with a lead character that has issues of his own. However, it fails to make the most of this potential.

The sub-plots are half-baked and any character development is quite superficial. The attempts to develop Harry Hole's character, especially his relationship with his ex-girlfriend and his son, are quite cringeworthy.

Throw in a host of American and British stars all trying to sound like Norwegians speaking English (wouldn't Norwegians speak Norwegian in Norway?) and it all feels very clumsy. Other than Michael Fassbender as Harry Hole, the American / British stars - Rebecca Ferguson, JK Simmons, Val Kilmer, Toby Jones, Adrian Dunbar, Chloe Sevigny - only seem there to give the film some credibility among American and British audiences. Only Ferguson has more than about 3 minutes of screentime. Val Kilmer's performance and character are so laughable they actually set the movie back.

Why not have Norwegian actors speaking Norwegian, with subtitles? It would have felt much more authentic.

This said, the main plot is quite intriguing and is what kept me watching despite all the negative aspects. There's a good red herring in the mix and the murderer isn't obvious until late in the piece. Plus, despite all the smokescreens and randomness that goes before, the whole thing does all come together at the end.

In the end I liked it, but only just.