The Snowman

Director Tomas Alfredson's bizarre murder mystery, based on Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø's pulpy 2007 thriller, revolves around Norway's most famous detective: chain-smoking, vodka-swilling Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender), whose chaotic private life involves an art dealer ex (Charlotte Gainsbourg), her sulky teenage son (Michael Yates), and her new partner (Jonas Karlsson). Joined by the homicide department's rookie, Katrine Bratt (Rebecca Ferguson), Hole is on the trail of a serial killer who leaves a snowman figure outside the houses of his chosen victims—women who have recently terminated pregnancies. Katrine is scrutinizing a smarmy industrialist (J.K. Simmons) who is overseeing Oslo's bid for the Winter Games, as well as a creepy doctor (David Dencik). And another dissolute alcoholic detective (Val Kilmer) is investigating the same killer's crimes in the city of Bergen nine years earlier. Admitting defeat, filmmaker Alfredson told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation: “We didn't get the whole story…and when we started cutting we discovered that a lot was missing.” And that makes for a lot of plot holes in this gruesome and confusing mess. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the production featurettes “Cast of Characters” (8 min.), “Norwegian Landscape” (7 min.), “Creating Jo Nesbø's World” (4 min.), “The Snowman Killer” (4 min.), and “Stunt Files: The Sinking Lake” (2 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing cinematic misfire.] (S. Granger)