Salt Lake Tribune Review
If “Fargo” and “Twin Peaks” have taught us anything, it’s that small towns hold dark secrets — and the same holds true in “Terribly Happy,” the riveting noir thriller from Denmark that’s as biting as the irony in its title.
Into one particular small Danish village arrives Robert (
Jakob Cedergren), a Copenhagen cop who had a breakdown of some sort (the details will be revealed eventually) and has been assigned as the town’s new marshal. The town, though, isn’t too sure it needs a marshal, the police chief in the next town tells him, since “they like to handle things themselves.” How do they handle things? Well, there’s a bog on the edge of town where things tend to disappear.
While getting his bearings, Robert meets two townsfolk. One is Jorgen (Kim Bodnia), the town bully. The other is Ingelise (
Lene Maria Christensen), Jorgen’s battered wife, who goes to Robert for help — but is afraid to press formal charges against Jorgen, for fear his temper will boil over even worse than usual.
Of course, Robert is attracted to Ingelise, which you just know is going to lead to trouble — though not the way you might think.
Director Henrik Ruben Genz drops surprises like firecrackers, each one detonating in carefully placed explosions of violence toward a chilling conclusion. These emotional pyrotechnics take place in the cool, claustrophobic atmosphere of the village, where a squeaking baby carriage portends violence, and the town elders keep tabs on everyone while playing an endless card game.
“Terribly Happy” fits neatly into a recent spate of Scandinavian noir thrillers — alongside the vampire thriller “Let the Right One In” and the mystery “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” both from Sweden. And, like those films, this one is going to be remade by Hollywood, though in this case the original director, Genz, will be the one making the Hollywood version. If he can maintain the thick sense of dread of the Danish version, he’ll do fine.
-- Sean P. Means
Synopsis: Temporarily reassigned to the provincial Danish town of South Jutland after being accused of professional misconduct in Copenhagen, a by-the-books policeman begins to sense that the flowery façade of this picturesque hamlet masks something truly sinister dark drama based on author Erling Jepsen's novel of the same name. Constable Robert isn't used to life in the country, so when he's first confronted by the small-town customs of South Jutland he begins to feel as if he's drifted into some kind of all-too-quaint alternate reality. But perhaps his suspicion that everything here is just a little too perfect isn't just the result of simple culture shock, because the more Constable Robert gets to know about his new surroundings the more convinced he becomes that the community of South Jutland harbors a disturbing secret.~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
I don't know about the comparison to Fargo or Twin Peaks. Fargo maybe. Twin Peaks, no. This is a good movie, but it does not have the same existential feel of Lynch. Nor is there enough development of exactly what is going on with the bog to satisfy. The key attraction is the acting of the 2 male leads - both are very good and the characters keep us guessing about their next move. I would give it only 3 stars. [ Report Abuse ]