← Back to results
The Snowman
2017 119 min Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America R 18+
★4.4
Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Horror
Director: Tomas Alfredson
🎭 Based on
«The Snowman»
byJo Nesbø
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Detective Harry Hole investigates the disappearance of a woman whose pink scarf is found wrapped around an ominous looking snowman.
Budget:
$35M
US Gross:
$6.7M
Worldwide:
$43.2M
Starring
Michael Fassbender
Actor
Rebecca Ferguson
Actor
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
The Snowman is widely regarded as a failed adaptation, suffering from a fragmented and incoherent screenplay that leaves plot threads and character motivations underdeveloped. While the film is praised for its evocative Scandinavian cinematography and atmosphere, these aesthetic strengths are unable to compensate for the jarring editing and lack of narrative clarity.
| Cinematography | Stunning cinematography and production design effectively capture the austere, cold beauty of the Norwegian landscape and interiors. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is heavily criticized for being a truncated, incoherent mess that fails to translate the source material, resulting in incomprehensible plot holes and unexplained character motivations. | |
| Editing | The editing is widely described as disjointed, with abrupt cuts and missing scenes that prevent the story from cohering into a logical narrative. | |
| Acting | Fassbender's performance polarizes viewers: some find him a compelling, grim lead, while others perceive his portrayal of Harry Hole as lifeless, opaque, or forced. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the film's tone are divided: some appreciate the slow-burn, minimalist Nordic thriller aesthetic, while others find it dull, lacking tension, and devoid of necessary emotional connection. |