Hamarinn

This movie from Iceland is not as edgy as other types of Nordic Noir movies. The script is a little childish and confusing, and while the acting is good, the dialog is not. As is common with many Scandinavian movies, everything has to be neatly wrapped up in the end and no one really gets hurt too badly. Any murder that's committed seems to have some moral or "good" reason. This movie, although it has an environmental message, is nowhere as preachy as those from Sweden and especially Norway!

In an isolated island country, with a low crime rate and small and at least distantly related population, it would be tricky and/or ridiculous to construct a crime story with lots of heavy criminals and weaponry involved. So you have to find some other points of references and develop them into a credible story - local practices, beliefs, landscape peculiarities...

All this is clearly visible in Hamarinn (The Cliff) where standard issue crime drama story lines and characters are intertwined with (super)natural phenomena and abilities, alas the latter are just depicted and, unlike the tragic event, would obtain no explanation or solution. True, the acting is good, beautifully harsh Icelandic nature visible, but there was still something that fell short for me, falling behind e.g. Ófærð and other films where Baltasar Kormákur is usually involved. Sometimes mysticism is not enough to make the series rounded - or provides unnecessary "simple solution" to worldly acts and thoughts.

One of my favorite things about the increasing number of Icelandic shows shown in the US is the role the country's exotic and sometimes moonscape-like landscape is prominently featured. Everything about Iceland is unique. Compared to phenomenal series' like Trapped, or even The Valhalla Murders and Case, this is somewhat mediocre, basically the storyline is just not that intriguing, Even though season one is 4 episodes I felt it dragged and could have easily been concluded in 2 episodes , or maybe 3 tops.

The lead male detective is good in his role and in Season 1 he develops a good repour with the woman detective. In Season 2, he never develops a solid partnership with the woman detective. Season 2 also has some serious plot holes. My wife and I would give it a 7.2 if we could. We enjoyed it, but it isn't a top-notch series.

Does anyone know if there was a series three made? This is an excellent series and number two ended like there would be more.