Boasting a very strong cast and based on best-selling source material, The Snowman (no, not that one) has long-looked like being one of the big films of the year.
Led by the always excellent Michael Fassbender as flawed police detective Harry Hole, Rebecca Ferguson, JK Simmons, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, Val Kilmer and James D’Arcy all star in the big screen adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s revered novel.
Directed by Tomas Alfredson, of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy fame, the thriller is set in Norway (mainly Oslo and Bergen) and follows the story of The Snowman killer.
Striking when the snow arrives, the elusive sociopath taunts the police by building creepy snowmen at the scene of each of his many murders.
His killings aren’t for the faint-hearted, it must be said, with dismemberment, decapitation and shotgun blows to the head all in his very messed up repertoire.
Not content with his murdering spree, the killer also seeks the attention of Fassbender’s detective Hole.
An alcoholic, Oslo-based Hole barely manages to turn up for work and struggles to make his way home most nights – with passing out on park benches more his thing.
However, when he discovers an odd snowman-themed letter that coincides with the disappearance of a woman that is being investigated by his colleague Katrine Bratt (Ferguson), Hole realises that he needs to get his game face on.
Also running alongside the main plot is an odd flashback story involving another drunken detective, Gert Rafto (Kilmer), in Bergen.
The more Hole looks into the cases, the more he begins to believe that the two could be linked.
And, with Bratt also looking into the actions of the sinister Norwegian tycoon and philanthropist Arve Støp (Simmons) – who is fronting a bid for the Winter Olympics – there’s much for the duo to investigate.
I enjoyed the performances of Fassbender and Ferguson, who worked well as a thrown-together team. Fassbender, in particular, sells his character very well.
There’s also plenty of intrigue around the story. I suspected many of the characters could be the killer, but was never convinced before the big reveal, making for a decent twist.
That is helped by the strong nature of the supporting cast, with numerous big names playing smaller roles than you’d expect.
Norway also served as a great setting, with the snow and vast landscapes both beautiful and menacing.
There are pacing issues here, though. The Snowman never really gathers up a big head of steam or ramps up the tension either, which was a shame. There’s also a lot of reliance on an odd piece of police kit, dubbed the ‘EviSync’, which is essentially an oversized iPad.
To be honest, the ending underwhelms a little too – although the big reveal does go some way to making up for that.
In short; don’t expect anything more than a serviceable thriller helped by some strong performances.
Voice Verdict: 7/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema)
+ Fassbender and Ferguson are great
+ Some inventive/gruesome deaths
– Odd reliance on EviSync device
– Weak ending
SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Oct 20 to Thurs, Oct 26)
**THOR: RAGNAROK (12A)
2.45pm (Tues/Weds/Thurs), 5.30pm (Wed/Thurs), 8.30pm (Tues/Weds/Thurs)
**GEOSTORM (12A)
2D – 10.30am (daily), 1pm (daily), 6pm (daily), 8.30pm (not Tues)
3D – 3.30pm (daily)
**HAPPY DEATH DAY (15)
1.30pm (Sun), 2.45pm (not Tues/Weds/Thurs), 5.40pm (Sun/Mon), 6.30pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)
**JIGSAW (18)
8.45pm (Thurs)
** MY LITTLE PONY (U)
10am (daily), 12.25pm (daily), 2pm (daily), 4.15pm (daily)
LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (U)
10am (daily), 12.15pm (daily), 2pm (not Sun), 2.45pm (Sun)
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (15)
2.45pm (daily), 5pm (Fri/Sat)
BLADE RUNNER 2049 (15)
8pm (Fri-Mon), 8.15pm (Tues/Weds/Thurs)
THE SNOWMAN (15)
6pm (not Tues), 8.40pm (not Mon/Thurs)
BOTOKS (18)
8.30pm (Fri-Mon)
THE RITUAL (15)
6.30pm (daily)
KIDS’ CLUB
10.15am – Despicable Me 3 (U) (not Sun/Weds)
10.15am – The Emoji Movie (U) (daily)
SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – The Snowman (15)
SUBTITLED SHOWING
Tues 6pm – The Snowman (15)
**FREE LIST SUSPENDED
