Frida Kempff’s breathtaking biopic of Swedish swimming sensation, Sally Bauer, opens with failure. Bauer (Josefin Neldén) is gasping for air; we can almost feel the ache in her arms as she struggles to keep her head above the water. She … Continue reading The Swedish Torpedo – Film Review from Glasgow Film Festival
Usually, when a film makes you want to visit the location in which it was shot, it implies sunny Mediterranean coastlines or dramatic, isolated scenery. But a decaying, pulsating hotel that won’t let you leave? Surely, that’s the stuff of … Continue reading Mr. K – Film Review from Glasgow Film Festival 2025
Each month, Nordic Watchlist curates the best in film, TV, and literature from across the Nordic region, bringing you our standout picks in one place. Nordic Spotlight: Best in Screen and Page is your go-to roundup for the most compelling … Continue reading Nordic Spotlight: Best in Screen and Page – February | Monthly Roundup
While they may feature prominently in many Nordic Noir TV Series, and indeed a whole generation of memes were created around Sofie Gråbøl’s knitwear in The Killing, there are not many Nordic Noir books where Nordic knitting patterns prove pivotal. … Continue reading The Grave In The Ice by Satu Rämö – Book Review
The Glasgow Film Festival enjoys its twenty-first birthday this year, opening on February 26 and running until March 9. The festival continues to grow, annually, with audience numbers on the rise and a host of international stars walking the red … Continue reading 5 Nordic Films to Watch at Glasgow Film Festival 2025
The body doesn’t lie, even when the mouth does. For psychologists, body language can say much more about a situation than words ever can. Even the most hardened liar finds it hard to control the often minuscule signals the body … Continue reading Son by Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger – Book Review
A small, isolated town seemingly fuelled by gossip and the church. A chilly welcome to “mainlanders”. School bullying. Ableist discrimination. A persistent fear of the occult. LARPing. A detective with a series case of burnout. Walter Presents: Evilside is a … Continue reading Evilside Review – New Walter Presents Series
On paper, Frelle Petersen’s Home Sweet Home might not seem as engaging as it sounds—but its nearly two-hour runtime unfolds into a compelling and deeply affecting experience, thanks in large part to an outstanding performance from lead actress Jette Søndergaard. … Continue reading Home Sweet Home – Film Review
From the snow-covered mountains of Åre—where no one is safe—to the sun-soaked beauty of Gotland, Netflix has delivered a thrilling crime drama with The Åre Murders and followed it up with something far more lighthearted in Love Forever. For those … Continue reading Love Forever – Netflix Film Review
After I’d finished wiping away the tears that coincided with the closing credits of R.I.P. Henry’s final episode, I started to give some thought as to how I’d best describe this show; a show that I’m fairly certain for the … Continue reading R.I.P. Henry – TV Series Review
There’s a big caveat for anyone reading this and confused over Wisting series three. For viewers in the UK, series three of Wisting, airing on the BBC, differs from the version originally shown in Norway. For the UK (and many … Continue reading Wisting Series Three – TV Review
As the cold weather lingers, there’s nothing better than getting wrapped up in a gripping Nordic crime thriller. The Åre Murders is the perfect winter watch, taking us away from the usual city-based crime dramas and into the breathtaking yet … Continue reading The Åre Murders – Netflix TV Show Review
Discover the latest Nordic New Releases in our February Monthly Guide and find out which titles to add to your Nordic Watchlist this month. FILMS & TV SERIES The Åre Murders | TV Series | Netflix | 6th February Suspended … Continue reading Nordic New Releases: February Monthly Guide
Each month, Nordic Watchlist curates the best in film, TV, and literature from across the Nordic region, bringing you our standout picks in one place. Nordic Spotlight: Best in Screen and Page is your go-to roundup for the most compelling … Continue reading Nordic Spotlight: Best in Screen and Page – January | Monthly Roundup
Many might recognise Danish actor Marco Ilsø from his role as Hvitserk in Vikings. His other work includes Wildmen, which is a film we strongly recommend you seek out if you are a fan of the actor. But before doing … Continue reading Danish actor Marco Ilsø discusses working on Viaplay’s biker gang drama ‘Bullshit’
Danish author Lone Theil’s debut crime novel Fatal Crossing (Pigerne Fra England-Båden) from 2015 ticks every box for a screen adaptation. The tale of a London-based Danish journalist, written by a former London-based Danish journalist, lends the book a sense … Continue reading Fatal Crossing – TV Series Review
Mats Steen died when he was just 25 years old. He was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative disease that ultimately robbed him of his life. A keen gamer, his story is told through talking heads and World of … Continue reading The Remarkable Life of Ibelin – Film Review
Whether you’ve seen F.W. Murnau’s silent masterpiece Nosferatu or not, the image of Count Orlok emerging from below the deck of the Demeter is one of the most iconic in cinema history. And whilst we have Robert Eggers take on … Continue reading The Last Voyage of the Demeter – Film Review
Blackwater finally arrives on Channel 4’s Walter Presents with a stacked cast of famous Nordic stars and plenty of hype, having garnered significant praise across Scandinavia. But how does it translate here, and is it any good? The short answer: … Continue reading Blackwater Review – New Walter Presents TV Series
Our first book review of 2025 is Into Thin Air by Ørjan Karlsson. Norway – a picturesque land where crime is virtually non-existent and what little crime there is confined only to the urban surroundings of Oslo. Like the Norse … Continue reading Into Thin Air by Ørjan Karlsson – Book Review
If you haven’t heard of The Girl With The Needle yet then it might be possible you have been either hiding under a rock or need to spend more time on Nordic Watchlist. The Magnus von Horn-directed Danish film has … Continue reading Director Magnus von Horn Discusses The Girl With The Needle
“You’ve done the right thing,” Dagmar Overbye reassures the desperate mothers who hand over their newborns to her for a not insignificant fee. She places a hand on their shoulder, smiles warmly and reassures them that their child will be … Continue reading The Girl With The Needle – Film Review
We are excited to announce what series are on their way in 2025. Here are the new Nordic TV Series for 2025! Here we will feature series that will be available on the BBC, Netflix, Walter Presents/Channel 4, and Viaplay USA and UK. Please note that some … Continue reading New Nordic TV Series for 2025
Thordur Palsson’s The Damned comes to UK Cinemas this week and Nordic Watchlist got the opportunity to speak to the Icelandic director, along with his star Australian actress Odessa Young. Nordic Watchlist: Thordur, Icelandic folklore plays a very significant role … Continue reading Behind the Scenes of The Damned with Thordur Palsson and Odessa Young
For many writers, a sense of place serves as a backdrop—an aesthetic choice that enhances the story. But for author Ørjan Karlsson the landscapes of northern Norway are more than just scenery. They are characters, shaping the people who live … Continue reading Exclusive Interview with Author Ørjan Karlsson
Police procedurals are a staple of Scandinavian television series. There’s usually a detective with a terrible personal life keeping all kinds of anti-social hours, driven to the brink by a case they cannot solve. And whilst that is the case … Continue reading The Breakthrough Review – New Netflix TV Series
“Was it worth it? – There’s no way to answer that – what is freedom worth?” So says veteran Gunnar Sønsteby in response to a student question after delivering his account of life as a Norwegian resistance fighter during the … Continue reading Number 24 – Netflix Film Review
The Stockholm Bloodbath is considered something of a turning point in Scandinavian history. Over the course of three days, in November 1520, more than one hundred executions took place. After battling to become king of Sweden and Denmark, Kristian II … Continue reading Stockholm Bloodbath – Film Review
“There’s madness in its words; There’s sickness in its breath; Beware the Draugr, for its very touch is death.” So goes a snippet of a rhyme that one of the beleaguered townsfolk utters in his sleep during Thordur Palsson’s The … Continue reading The Damned – Film Review
Happy New Year everyone – here we are in 2025 – a very special year for Nordic Watchlist as it turns 5 years old and what better way to start celebrating than to see what amazing titles are being released … Continue reading Nordic New Releases: January Monthly Guide
