The Snowman

The 2017 British-American psychological thriller directed by Swedish filmmaker Tomas Alfredson is based on Jo Nesbø's novel of the same name and follows Oslo detective Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender) as he investigates a series of women's disappearances, each marked by the presence of ominous snowmen at the crime scenes. Struggling with alcoholism and personal issues, Hole teams up with new colleague Katrine Bratt (Rebecca Ferguson) to unravel a case that connects past and present. The film also features Charlotte Gainsbourg (Rakel), Val Kilmer (Gert Rafto), J.K. Simmons (Arve Støp), Chloë Sevigny (Sylvia Ottersen/Ane Pedersen), and Toby Jones (Gunnar Hagen). Filming took place in Norway, including Oslo, Bergen, and Rjukan, starting in January 2016. Despite its strong cast and atmospheric visuals, the film faced criticism for its incoherent plot and underdeveloped script, which, according to the director, resulted from approximately 10–15% of the screenplay not being filmed due to tight production schedules. Nevertheless, "The Snowman" stands as a notable attempt to adapt Scandinavian noir to the screen, exploring themes of obsession, loss, and psychological instability.