Read our 4-star review of The Secrets from the Deep by Satu Rämö. The fourth book in the bestselling Hildur series dives into family secrets in the Westfjords. Continue reading The Secrets from the Deep Book Review: Satu Rämö’s Dark, Emotional Icelandic Thriller
Read our 5-star review of Vigdís, the award-winning Icelandic drama series about the early life of the world’s first elected female president, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. Continue reading Vigdís Review: A 5-Star Biopic Series Celebrating an Icelandic Trailblazer
Norwegian star Anders Danielsen Lie speaks to Nordic Watchlist about playing the father in The Summer Book, silent grief, and working on Finnish islands. Continue reading Anders Danielsen Lie on The Summer Book & Silent Grief
Adapting Tove Jansson’s celebrated 1972 semi-autobiographical novel The Summer Book for international theatrical distribution was a delicate undertaking.
In our latest feature at Nordic Watchlist, we review the film—starring Glenn Close, Anders Danielsen Lie, and Emily Matthews—and sit down with director Charlie McDowell (The One I Love, Windfall) to examine how he preserved the authentically Nordic, understated tone of Jansson’s work while shifting its episodic narrative structure for cinema audiences. Continue reading The Summer Book Review: A Brilliant 5-Star Page-to-Screen Triumph
Nordic films on BFI Player offer UK cinema lovers an exceptional gateway into Scandinavian film. Whether you want to revisit iconic masterpieces or discover recent festival favorites, the platform provides a rich selection of cinema from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, … Continue reading 10 Nordic Films to Stream on BFI Player
“Humanity builds its little homes and cities, and nature can just wipe us out…” We caught up with Icelandic actress Vigdís Hrefna Pálsdóttir over a video call to discuss starring in The Fires, hanging out of helicopters over live eruptions, collaborating with Pilou Asbæk, and working with director Ugla Hauksdóttir. Out now on Digital in the UK! Continue reading Behind The Fires: Vigdís Pálsdóttir on Iceland’s Volcanic Drama
Anders Danielsen Lie and Kathrine Thorborg Johansen star in Maria Bäck’s ‘Brave New Love’, heading to Locarno 2026. Read the synopsis & details at Nordic Watchlist. Continue reading Locarno 2026: Anders Danielsen Lie and Kathrine Thorborg Johansen Star in Maria Bäck’s Brave New Love
Just released – The Depths, the third book in Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s The Black Ice series.
Set against the dark and unforgiving waters of the North Atlantic, The Depths is a chilling thriller that intertwines long-buried secrets, family tragedy, and murder with masterful precision.
With expertly controlled pacing, richly atmospheric settings, and a climactic twist that lands with the force of a tidal wave, The Depths demonstrates why Yrsa Sigurdardóttir remains one of the leading voices in Nordic noir.
Read the full review now Continue reading The Depths Review: Yrsa Sigurdardóttir’s Chilling Thriller
Read our review of The Fires (Eldarnir). Ugla Hauksdóttir’s thriller balances scientific realism, disaster drama, and compelling performances. Continue reading The Fires Film Review: Icelandic Volcanic Thriller
What if one careless sentence turned a struggling hotel supervisor into a corporate fixer… and a murder accomplice? Erlendur Arason’s The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder blends Nordic Noir, dark humour and corporate intrigue into a thriller where office politics can be just as dangerous as a killer on the loose. When Torfi accidentally convinces his bosses that he knows too much about their shady dealings, he finds himself promoted, paid off, and drawn into a deadly conspiracy he barely understands.
Our latest review explores why this Icelandic debut is far more than a conventional crime novel. Read the full review on our website via the link in bio. Continue reading The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder Review: Icelandic Thriller
Read our 4-star review of Chorus Girls on Walter Presents. A powerful, mid-1970s Danish drama tackling sexism, sisterhood, and the dark side of showbiz Continue reading Chorus Girls Walter Presents Review: A Gritty Danish Drama
The Sommerdahl Murders may have you reaching for your sunglasses If you think that all Nordic Police procedural TV series take place in the bleak gloom of Scandinavian winters, all monochrome with brooding soundtracks, The Sommerdahl Murders may have you … Continue reading The Sommerdahl Murders Season 4 Review: Sunny Danish Crime
Read our 3-star review of the Cold Prey Trilogy on Limited Edition Blu-Ray from Second Sight Films. Discover Norway’s ultimate winter slasher franchise. Continue reading Cold Prey Trilogy Blu-Ray Review: Classic Norwegian Slasher
A slow-burn, sweltering Danish mystery that handles its tension like a tight wrestling hold, slowly tightening its grip until you are completely hooked The last time we saw wrestling play such a visceral role and metaphor in Nordic cinema was … Continue reading Suplex Review: Josephine Park Shines in a Gripping Danish Mystery Thriller
Danish filmmaker Anders Thomas Jensen returns with The Last Viking, a masterful blend of pitch-black comedy, visceral violence, and deep emotional resonance. Known for his long-standing collaborations with the cream of Danish cinema, Jensen’s latest feature pushes his regular ensemble … Continue reading Interview: Anders Thomas Jensen on ‘The Last Viking’
My first introduction to Anders Thomas Jensen was very late, it was Riders of Justice (five years ago) and I was absolutely taken by his style of film. The way his cast worked and played off each other made for … Continue reading Anders Thomas Jensen: 6 Essential Films From The Danish Dark Comedy Master
We review Aki Mäkiaho’s atmospheric horror novel Sauna Elf, a chilling yet beautifully written journey through centuries of Finnish folklore, sacred rituals, and bloody purification.
If you love distinct, folklore-driven Nordic literature, this one is an absolute must-read. Just be careful the next time you look under the sauna bench… Continue reading Sauna Elf Book Review: A Darkly Beautiful Nordic Horror Grounded in Finnish Folklore
Whether she is navigating the high-octane sets of Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth or redefining Danish television with her history-making series Bad Bitch, Diêm Camille is a force of nature. We caught up with the multi-hyphenate star to discuss her transition from the “family-friendly” world of The Sommerdahl Murders to the global stage, and why her latest project, The Barbershop, is her most personal story yet. Continue reading The Irresistible Rise of Diêm Camille
Read our full Kraken film review. Pål Øie’s Norwegian creature feature boasts a strong climate change premise but falls short on monster screen time. Continue reading Kraken Film Review: Visually Stunning Eco-Horror Short on Screen Time
Looking for a dark new thriller? In this Stop Dead book review, we take a closer look at Katrín Júlíusdóttir’s latest release, where the biggest risk in tackling a marathon isn’t the distance itself, but a calculating killer. Continue reading Stop Dead Book Review: A Compelling, Atmospheric Icelandic Mystery
Dark small-town secrets and brutal coincidences collide in the gripping second season of Black Sands on Viaplay. Read our official 4-star review exploring the powerful performances, visually striking direction, and deep familial scars defining this must-watch Icelandic noir return. Continue reading Black Sands Season 2 Review: Dark Small-Town Secrets Unravel on Viaplay
Nicolas Winding Refn’s new horror-thriller, Her Private Hell, is part of the official selection at Cannes 2026, and is set for release in cinemas later on this year. With that in mind, it feels pertinent to roll back the clock … Continue reading Pusher Trilogy: Revisiting Nicolas Winding Refn’s 3 Cult Classics
Black Sands star Aldís Amah Hamilton discusses writing season 2, tackling dark Icelandic themes, the iconic red sweater, and the reality of modern motherhood. Continue reading Aldís Amah Hamilton Interview: Navigating the Dark Evolution of Black Sands Season 2
Before the Hollywood remake, there was the blinding white heat of the Norwegian original. Erik Skjoldbjærg’s Insomnia is a psychological descent into a land where the sun never sets and guilt has nowhere to hide. With a 4K restoration on the horizon, we revisit Stellan Skarsgård’s haunting portrayal of a detective rotting from the inside out. Continue reading Insomnia (1997) Review: Skarsgård Shines in the Original Nordic Noir Masterpiece
Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton face off in the Australian wilderness in APEX.
Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur returns to his survival thriller roots with this high-stakes game of cat and mouse. From intense rock climbing to an already iconic dance scene, this is the perfect popcorn watch for your next Netflix night.
Read our full review of the latest survival hit from the director of Everest and Katla! Continue reading Review of APEX: Baltasar Kormákur’s Survival Thriller on Netflix
A sun-drenched villa, a reluctant crime writer, and a murder she can’t outrun, Jenny Lund Madsen’s Under the Blazing Sun follows Hannah, a novelist who looks down on crime fiction—until she’s forced to live inside one, becoming the prime suspect in a chilling Sicilian murder. With tangled relationships, Mafia danger, and a story packed with sharp humour and clever twists, this thriller plays with the genre while delivering all the suspense you’d expect. Read our review online now… Continue reading Under the Blazing Sun Review: A Brilliant and Chilling Meta-Thriller
Nordic Watchlist reviews Walter Presents’ Ammo. This Norwegian thriller explores the ethics of AI in warfare, corporate greed, and a descent into moral isolation Continue reading Ammo Review: Walter Presents’ Norwegian AI Thriller Is a Chilling Warning
Explore the inaugural Langeland International Film Festival. We interview Douglas Tanton and Rebecca Pruzan about bringing global island cinema to the Danish archipelago. Continue reading Langeland International Film Festival: Celebrating Island Stories
Søren Sveistrup’s Hide and Seek arrives on Netflix. Can Thulin and Hess stop a killer using a childhood rhyme? Read our review of this chilling Nordic Noir. Continue reading Hide and Seek Review: Why This Is the Next Must-Watch Nordic Noir
Nordic Watchlist shares 12 Crime Dramas to Binge if you Loved Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole – from some old classic to some recent additions here are some suggestions of what to watch next. Continue reading 12 Crime Dramas to Binge if you Loved Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole
