We had a bit of time out in July, but it wasn’t long until we were back checking out some new Nordic releases. This month includes a couple of debuts from last weekend’s Frightfest!

Here is our Nordic Watchlist for August 2023:

TV SERIES

Enemy of the People | Finland | Walter Presents/CH4

Walter Presents has struck gold again this year with the exceptionally thrilling Finnish thriller Enemy of the People. The series sees a reporter get embroiled in a murder case when a footballer she had written a negative article about is found dead, opening up a can of worms which she investigates at the risk of her own life.

The series has been particularly praised for Keeta Salinen’s performances as Katja – Nordic Watchlist spoke to Kreeta in her first English interview!

Thunder in My Heart | Sweden | Viaplay

Before Viaplay goes, and when that is we are still not sure, you MUST make time to watch both seasons of Thunder in My Heart. The second season was released at the end of July and the series continued to prove what an incredible talent Amy Deasismont is, along with the rest of the cast that includes Alexander Karim.

The second season is a lot heavier in its subject matter, which is so delicately handled, but there is still some room for comedy to lighten things up at times too.

FILM

Sick of Myself | Norway | BFI Player

Sick of Myself remains one of our favourite Nordic films (that has been released in the UK) and we’re delighted to see that it had been released on BFI Player.

Fans of dark, and we mean REALLY dark, comedy should really make time to see this and now it is so easily accessible you have no excuse.

You can read our interview with one of the stars from the film, Eirik Sæther, where you will learn a little more about the director Kristoffer Borgli. Borgli’s next film is opening Toronto Film Festival and stars Nicholas Cage!

Next up are a pair of Nordic horror movies we got to preview and will get a release next month.

THE KNOCKING | Directed by Joonas Pajunen & Max Seeck | Finland

The Knocking is an interesting Finnish ‘eco horror’ making us more aware of how we should look after our woodlands. Mikko (Pekka Strang, Dogs Don’t Wear Pants) and his siblings Maria (Inka Kallén, All the Sins) and Matilda (Saana Koivisto, also All the Sins) voyage into the woods to visit their family home before it goes on sale.

Clearly things were a bit strange in their childhood, as returning back to their home triggers all sorts of strange goings on. The film is an atmospheric slow burn with a phenomenal soundtrack by Tuomas Kantelinen.

The Knocking is on digital platforms 4 September.

GOOD BOY | Directed by Viljar Bøe | Norway

I think the best way of describing this movie is “American Psycho meets Crufts” – maybe something along those lines. To say too much would reveals too much from this Norwegian feature which is more a psychological horror than anything too gory.

Sigrid (Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen) goes out for a date with a super rich and handsome man named Christiain (Gard Løkke). Everything seems perfect, but there is one catch; he has a pet dog called Frank who isn’t your average dog.

Blue Finch Film Releasing presents Good Boy on digital platforms 11 September. 

BOOKS

Our new resident Nordic literature lover got stuck into You Can’t See Me by Eva Björg Ægisdottir and Reykjavki by Ragnar Jónasson & Katrin Jakobsdóttir.
Read his brillaint review of both books.

What Nordic series, films, and books have you been enjoying this month? Let us know in the comments below!