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The Absent One
Fasandræberne
2014 116 min Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden 18+
★7.2
Thriller
Director: Mikkel Nørgaard
🎭 Based on
«The Absent One»
byJussi Adler-Olsen
Trailers
Description
Denmark, 2014. A former police officer asks Carl Mørck, head of Department Q, to find out who brutally killed his young twins in 1994. Although a local inhabitant confessed and was convicted of murder, Carl and his partner Assad soon realize that there is something in the case resolution that is terribly wrong.
Budget:
$5.8M
Worldwide:
$11.5M
Starring
Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Actor
Fares Fares
Actor
Pilou Asbæk
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 14 nominations total
Key opinion
Fasandræberne (The Absent One) is a polarizing addition to the Department Q franchise, praised by fans for its authentic Danish noir atmosphere and strong character chemistry. However, critics are divided on its adaptation choices, with some finding the narrative gripping and socially conscious, while others criticize the screenplay's plot holes and the pacing of its flashback-heavy structure.
| Acting | Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Fares Fares deliver consistent, compelling performances that successfully anchor the core dynamic of their characters. | |
| Production | The film excels in maintaining a bleak, textured, and moody Scandinavian visual style consistent with the broader noir genre. | |
| Pacing | The use of an extensive flashback structure is divisive, with some finding it a useful narrative tool and others feeling it dilutes the present-day investigation. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are split: supporters enjoy the gritty exploration of social privilege, while detractors point to logic gaps and structural inconsistencies. | |
| Adaptation | Viewers are torn on the adaptation's execution, with some feeling it captures the essence of Adler-Olsen’s work and others finding the transition from book to screen superficial. |