In a dystopian future, six soldiers are tasked with the transport of a mysterious package to a safe place that can end the civil war that has ravaged the country.
The vicious and dramatic opening sequence provides just enough information to grab your interest, get your attention, and throw you straight into the abyss of the plot. Caroline Edh’s (Noomi Rapace) skills and abilities are naturally shown without being told, and the introduction of the mission creates more mystery, enough to maintain the suspense and make one wonder what they are carrying across the sea that can end the war.
From the moment the mission commences sequence after sequence, the six elite soldiers are presented with the atrocities of war, and this is where one can argue that it gets quite scripted. Still, I found it well-written, acted, shot, and edited, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Overall, in terms of structure, the narrative’s structure is by the book. Nothing is surprising, really, but there’s nothing wrong with it, either. Co-writer/director Adam Berg brings to life a dystopian sci-fi that, even though, due to the heavy CGI, lacks the natural darkness the Scandinavian cinema has always offered, still manages to generate the intended emotions. Rapace is made for such roles (for any role, actually), and she rightfully steals the show.
I deliberately chose another Swedish film back to back only to emphasise the diversity of Swedish cinema. My previous review was of A Man Called Ove (2015), and as much as Black Crab cannot top it, it hits the spot and entertains the way it is supposed to.
While the ending might trigger mixed feelings, you won’t regret watching it. It’ll make you forget the atrocities of the real war out there and the pandemic that, even though it has taken a back seat, still hovers over our heads like the sword of Damocles.
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Solidarity for all the innocent lives who suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
