The Chestnut Man was the Twisted Scandinavian Drama that had British viewers riveted after it premiered on Netflix last month. It earned a spot in the UK’s Top TEN for several weeks.
However, it is not the only Nordic Noir available from the platform. The likes of the riveting drama Caliphate or the prequel series Young Wallander have also received glowing reviews from critics.
The Killing, The Bridge, and Borgen all made the genre a global hit.
The insatiable desire for streaming content has made the genre a hit again. It’s the type of gritty viewing that fans of Squid Game will love, and which is why they are reviving it.
THE CHESTNUT MASTER (2021)
Danish series The Chestnut Man follows detectives Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) as she hunts down a twisted serial killer who brutally amputates and murders young, negligent mothers
The chilling drama The Chestnut Man was a hit with viewers and earned a spot on Netflix’s Top Ten Most Popular Shows for a few weeks.
Based on the debut novel of Søren Sveistrup who penned The Killing, the Danish series is set in Copenhagen and follows detectives Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) and Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard).
The team is tasked to hunt down the serial killer, who murders and amputates young mothers. He also leaves behind handmade dolls of chestnuts at every crime scene.
The duo discovers that Kristine Hartung (Celine Morensen), the daughter of Minister of Social Affairs, was abducted and declared dead.
Over six part series the detectives unveil the criminal’s intricate web of lies to discover a shocking truth and viewers have hailed the show ‘one of the best series this year’.
Acclaimed Danish writer Søren explained that creating chestnut dolls is an annual tradition in Denmark and he was inspired by the ‘creepy’ song children sing when they make the figurines.
‘One Autumn day a few years ago I came to pick up my youngest in kindergarten and I saw the kids assembling chestnut men while they were singing a children’s song: ‘Chestnut man, do come in, Chestnut man, do come in’, said Søren.
“Me, I found the invitation creepy despite the fact that it had a simple context. Perhaps it’s because of the innocence of the context.
“Anyway. I chose to go along with my fears and use the little doll as a signature at a crime scene.”
YOUNG WALKER (2020)
Young Wallander follows the origin story of the titular character set in modern-day Sweden was released on Netflix to rave reviews. Pictured, Adam Pålsson as young Wallander
The British remake of Wallander on Swedish television, which was based on Henning Mankell’s novels, brought the genre to prominence when it first appeared in Britain in 2008.
Netflix’s last-year release of Kurt Wallander’s origin story, which was set in modern day Sweden, received rave reviews.
When he personally witnesses the bizarre and brutal murder of a teenage football player in his hometown of Malmo, the rookie police (Adam Pålsson) officer gets tapped to help investigate.
The six-part drama sees the police officer investigate the local refugee community, leading to vicious racist backlash and anti-immigration marches into the city, before discovering that one of Sweden’s richest families could be involved in the attack.
Yellow Bird UK was responsible for Young Wallander’s production. It is an affiliate of Swedish television and film production company, who also produced the original series with Kenneth Branagh.
This branch is located in London, and it focuses on creating Nordic Noir that appeals to British customers.
In 2022, Young Wallander returns with a brand new series that will launch on Netflix.
QUICKSAND (2019).
Told through the eyes of the protagonist, Quicksand tells the story of 18-year-old Maja (Hanna Ardéhn) who stands accused of murder following a school shooting at her elite prep school
Quicksand is based on Malin Pesson Giolito’s bestseller in Sweden, and has kept British viewers riveted to their televisions.
Told through the eyes of the protagonist, the drama tells the story of 18-year-old Maja (Hanna Ardéhn) who stands accused of murder following a school shooting at her elite prep school.
As the sole survivor of the attack, the six-part series explores whether she Maja was complicit in planning the shooting with her boyfriend Sebastian ‘Sibbe’ Fagerman (Felix Sandman).
Published in 2016, the original book won Nordic Crime Novel of the Year and the head writer for the series, Camilla Ahlgren, is known for her work on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo film trilogy and The Bridge.
Set in Danderyd, a wealthy suburb of Stockholm, Sandman said the series explores inequality in Sweden.
“Malin’s story is more than a tale about the school shooting. It’s a book that tells how everything begins. It is also a story of class and segregation, which is everywhere’, he told Swedish newspaper Moviezine.
“Although the story is very Swedish, it depicts the society everywhere.
CALIPHATE (2020).
Caliphate, a Nordic-set thriller about Pervin (Gizem Turkey) is a story that follows a young woman who wants to return home to Sweden. She has traveled to Raqqa to Isis and she now lives there with Husam (Amed Borzan).
After becoming the most-viewed series ever on Swedish streaming service SVT Play, Nordic thriller Caliphate launched on Netflix in March last year.
The suspenseful eight-part series, produced by The Bridge creators Filmlance, follows three women who become entangled in Islamic extremism as an impending terrorist attack looms on Sweden.
Pervin (Gizem Turkey) is a young lady who wants to come home to Sweden. She has just returned from ISIS-held Raqqa, where she has been living with Husam and their baby girl.
Pervin is a plotter to escape, providing information to the Swedish security service about the attack. Pervin now faces violence and threats of death, as well as horrific sexual assault.
Fatima (Aliette Opheim), an agent of the Swedish Security Service, is Pervin’s aide in her escape. She suspects other members of her service might be conspiring against her.
All the while, teenager Sulle (Nora Rios) is being groomed by her teacher’s assistant at a Muslim high school in Sweden, who is secretly an Isis recruiter.
The series is based on an idea by Wilhelm Behrman, who created the series together with Nikolas Rockström and was directed by award-winning Bosnian-Swedish director Goran Kapetanovic.
BORDERTOWN, 2016-2020
Bordertown, which has released its third series this year and stars Ville Virtanen in the role of detective inspector Kari Sorjonen. It follows a highly respected officer of National Bureau of Investigations.
After smashing records in Finland, crime drama series Bordertown has gained international acclaim with high-profile fans including esteemed horror author Stephen King.
Starring Ville Virtanen as detective inspector Kari Sorjonen, the series – which released its third series last year – follows a respected National Bureau of Investigation’s officer.
Kari moves to Lappeenranta after his wife is diagnosed with brain cancer. He seeks a peaceful existence and soon becomes a target for a serial killer.
Netflix purchased the series in 2017. The Golden Venla Awards were presented for Best Drama Series and Best Actor (Ville Virtanen), as well as Best Actress and Best Actor (Anu sinisalo) that year.
Bordertown launched since a second film on the streaming site and is expecting a fourth season.