If there’s one factor The Chestnut Man makes painfully clear, it’s that Denmark simply doesn’t do easy murder mysteries. Much more, Nordic noir continually finds a method to flip what could possibly be a routine investigation into one thing odd and disturbing. That is no clean-cut case with an apparent suspect, or on the very least, one misdirection earlier than the large reveal. Moderately, the sequence takes viewers on a journey by way of one gory crime scene after one other, with a touch of buried secrets and techniques and a signature transfer that’s one thing out of a ghost story. Based mostly on Søren Sveistrup’s eponymous bestselling novel, the present is centered on detectives Naia Thulin (Danica Ćurčić) and Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), who’re scorching on the heels of a killer who leaves tiny chestnut dolls at each crime scene.
At first, the offputting calling card is classed as simply that — offputting. Nevertheless, they finally notice it’s the cornerstone of the investigation, and that this isn’t nearly homicide. With a nail-biting six-episode season and a number of Denmark’s greatest actors within the combine, The Chestnut Man has already confirmed that it’s not your run-of-the-mill thriller. Følsgaard, normally seen in historical dramas, tries on one thing darker for dimension, whereas Ćurčić delivers her ordinary depth, making each revelation land tougher. They’ve led gripping tales earlier than, however right here, their performances really feel extra managed and well-suited for a present the place the heaviest moments come from what’s left unsaid.
The Creepiest Factor Concerning the ‘Chestnut Man’ Isn’t the Murders – It’s a Toy
There are only a few situations the place a chestnut doll turns into something scary. It’s virtually an arts and crafts challenge with just a few twigs caught right into a spherical nut and perhaps with a lopsided face drawn on for good measure. However in The Chestnut Man, these rudimentary figures cease being cute actual quick. The second they begin popping up at crime scenes, it’s clear that they’re a calling card for somebody really diabolical. The present capitalizes on this subversion from the get-go, inflicting slightly stir from the second Naia and Mark discover a chestnut doll close to a homicide sufferer. It’s unusual, however hardly probably the most disturbing factor concerning the case, until they appear slightly nearer. There’s a fingerprint that shouldn’t be there and it’s no coincidence. As such, a easy little craft abruptly results in an intricate trail of clues that don’t simply level to one thing sinister, it’s making the previous and current collide in probably the most surprising and unavoidable manner. The extra the dolls flip up, the extra puzzle items of a thriller flip up. This finally forces the detectives to dig up a case that nobody thought would ever see the sunshine of day.
Maybe that’s what makes The Chestnut Man so intriguing: the clue holds a lot significance that your complete present is known as after it. Much more alarming is the truth that these dolls aren’t drenched in blood or marked with any occultic insignia. But, by some means, they’re the creepiest factor within the sequence. It’s this distinction that basically sells the temporary. The dolls are one thing that ought to in any other case be harmless, however they flip into this taboo image that conjures up dread in each the characters and viewers. And as Thulin and Hess dig deeper, these little chestnut figures change into extra than simply clues — they’re an indication that the previous isn’t completed with them but.
‘The Chestnut Man’ Explores the Lasting Injury of Violence
Typically, loss of life is a huge plot twist in a film. Positive, it’s simple to identify from a mile away in a criminal offense thriller, however The Chestnut Man makes use of it in a complete different manner. As an alternative of simply current for shock worth, loss of life leaves a mark in The Chestnut Man, and it’s not simply on the victims. For the folks left behind, from the detectives to the households, there’s a myriad of souls unfortunate sufficient to get caught within the ripples. Within the sequence, Ćurčić’s Naia Thulin isn’t any stranger to powerful instances, however this one excavates too many hidden truths to be thought of regular. The deeper she will get, the extra private it begins to really feel, and that’s finally not nice for the case. Then there’s her clearly reluctant companion, Mark Hess, who offers off the vibe that he’s simply biding his time as a result of, finally, one thing new and extra as much as his velocity will current itself. However as soon as the chestnut collectible figurines begin to pop up, it’s clear that it was only a entrance, since he’s already haunted by one thing and this investigation is just conjuring extra ghosts.
Associated
Screw Romance, This Nordic Noir Thriller on Netflix Turns Love Into a Dark and Deadly Game
In ‘Loving Adults, it is ‘until loss of life do us half — actually.
The nice factor right here is that the highlight isn’t solely on the murders; the victims get their day within the solar. The Chestnut Man takes time to dissect their lives, their households, and the empty areas left behind. It’s secure to say that their absence is felt in ways in which transcend grief. For example, when a younger lady’s physique is discovered, her mom’s grief isn’t pushed to the sidelines, and all layers of it are explored because the case finds its footing. By the point the whodunit is sort of over, it’s clear that her homicide is just one a part of the image. The injury left in its wake is simply as necessary. All the pieces right here, from misplaced fingerprints to acquainted names, do not simply pose as clues; they’re virtually landmines that would destroy lives on influence. The true weight of the case isn’t simply in what’s found, however the way in which it impacts the folks investigating it.
Take Thulin: She’s already making an attempt to maintain her head above water when it comes to her private life. Attempting to stability work and motherhood weighs on her as a lot as the small print of the case. Even Hess, who initially comes off as withdrawn and indifferent, is carrying his personal baggage that feels much more intense as soon as he delves headfirst into the case. For sure, on the finish of the six episodes, The Chestnut Man solutions tons of questions, however that’s not the top of it. Viewers are left pondering arduous about what it prices to get them, and with a sequel sequence in manufacturing, we would get much more haunting perception.
The Chestnut Man is obtainable to stream on Netflix within the U.S.
- Launch Date
-
September 29, 2021
-
Danica Curcic
Naia Thulin
-
Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
Mark Hess
-
-
