The Chestnut Man
The Chestnut Man
Now Showing

The Chestnut Man

"If you find one, he's already found you."

7.5
Yr 2021
Rt 55m
Status Returning Series
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

At a grisly murder scene sits a figurine made of chestnuts. From this creepy clue, two detectives hunt a killer linked to a politician's missing child.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 84 /100

"The Chestnut Man" received strong acclaim as a highly engrossing and atmospheric addition to the Nordic Noir subgenre. Critics praised the Danish series for its tense, moody tone, realistic crime scene investigations, and unsettling central mystery. The show was frequently highlighted for maintaining an irresistible sense of tension and unease from its opening episode through to the finale.

Reviewers consistently singled out the richness and depth of the characters, alongside compelling performances and tight direction that elevated the material beyond standard crime procedurals. While some noted that the series relies on familiar thriller tropes and that the central mystery can feel somewhat formulaic or short on catharsis at times, most found the execution and aesthetic presentation to be exceptionally polished.

Overall, consensus points to a top-tier psychological thriller that delivers genuine horror elements and gripping suspense, making it a standout choice for fans of dark investigative dramas.

“Nordic Noir at its gripping best”

“This Danish crime thriller TV series is engaging as it's horrific and keeps us captivated till the end.”

“The Chestnut Man Season 1 is a top-tier psychological thriller”

“One of the better recent examples of this phenomenon, a Danish thriller from 2021 that follows the investigation into a string of serial murders”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
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US • CA • UK
Why fans love it

The Chestnut Man roots its tension in the collision between a cold, systematic investigation and the messy, psychological residue of domestic history. A series of brutal murders leaves behind a specific, handmade calling card at every crime scene, forcing investigators to confront the grim reality of a serial killer operating in the woods. Danica Ćurčić anchors the narrative as one of the detectives tasked with connecting these scattered figures to a high-profile case involving a missing child.

The drama differentiates itself by layering Interpol politics and institutional pressure over a story centered on personal trauma. Rather than relying on simple procedural mechanics, the script draws out the connections between the killer’s methodical craft and the vulnerability of the victims. Each episode leans into a bleak, forested aesthetic that emphasizes the isolation of the characters as they navigate the blurry lines between public corruption and private instability. It is a calculated study of how old grievances manifest into modern violence.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 15
Longest run 12 eps
Show 67 more
Ali Kazim as Nehru 6 episodes Sofie Gråbøl as Marie Hølst 6 episodes Katinka Lærke Petersen as Sandra Lindstrøm 6 episodes Özlem Sağlanmak as Esra Foldager 6 episodes Ester Birch as Le Thulin 6 episodes Ida Cæcilie Rasmussen as Signe Møller 6 episodes Bjørk Storm Engelshardt Kirkegaard as Emma Holst 6 episodes Thomas Hwan as Nikolaj Møller 2 episodes Morten Brovn Jørgensen as Frederik Vogel 5 episodes Anders Hove as Aksel 5 episodes Marie Lydie Melono Nokouda as Liv Christiansen 5 episodes Arian Kashef as Jacob Rasouli 4 episodes Elliott Crosset Hove as Linus Bekker 3 episodes Simone Lykke as Benedikte Skans 3 episodes Kasper Leisner as Sebastian 3 episodes Celine Mortensen as Kristine Hartung 2 episodes Jens Jørn Spottag as Marius Larsen 1 episode Kristian Høgh Jeppesen as Engells 5 episodes Marianne Søndergaard Madsen as Laura Kjær 1 episode Sofus Søndergaard Mikkelsen as Magnus Kjær 2 episodes Nicolai Dahl Hamilton as Hans Henrik Hauge 3 episodes Uffe Rørbæk Madsen as Medical examiner 1 episode Lars Torpp Thomsen as Police officer Kragh 1 episode Signe Vaupel as Statsminister 2 episodes Katinka Evers-Jahnsen as Mathilde 2 episodes Camilla Lau as Anne Sejer-Lassen 2 episodes Josefine Barnechow Sefrioui as Lina Sejer-Lassen 2 episodes Nora Barnechow Sefrioui as Sofia Sejer-Lassen 2 episodes Sander Herstad Lauridsen as Toke 2 episodes Silje Enevig Holst as Astrid 2 episodes Thea Glindorf as Sygeplejerske 1 episode Andreas Lyon as Journalist 1 1 episode Jesper Ole Feit Andersen as Nylanders assistent 3 episodes Maria Hanke as Journalist 2 1 episode Sune Kofoed as Reporter 1 episode Silas Cornelius Van as Ørums søn 1 episode Pia Hvilsted Sperling as Ørums kone 1 episode Peter Flyvholm as Speaker 2 2 episodes Thor Bjørn Krebs as Speaker 3 1 episode Christiane Gjellerup Koch as Deputy assistant commissioner Dahl 4 episodes Petrine Agger as Speaker 4 1 episode Olaf Højgaard as Tim Jansen 4 episodes Claudio Morales as Martin Ricks 2 episodes Anders Nyborg as Abildgård 5 episodes Helene Egelund as Anne Sejer-Lassens mor 1 episode Ina-Miriam Rosenbaum as Hauges advokat 1 episode Fadime Turan as IT tekniker 4 episodes Pernille René as Jessie Kvium 1 episode Villje Katring-Rasmussen as Olivia Kvium 1 episode Peder Thomas Pedersen as Erik Sejer-Lassen 1 episode Samy Andersen as Speaker 1 3 episodes Rasmus Bruun as Henning Loeb 1 episode Jytte Kvinesdal as Loebs chef 1 episode Abdel Aziz Mahmoud as Nyhedsvært 1 episode Thomas L. Corneliussen as Speaker 1 3 episodes Thomas Guldberg Madsen as Journalist 1 episode Morten Thunbo as Weiland 1 episode Thomas Bang as PET agent 1 episode Kristine Lauritzen as Mor til dreng på hospitalet 1 episode Behruz Banissi as Politi officer 1 episode Bjarne Henriksen as Brink 1 episode Tammi Øst as Johanne 1 episode Signe Skov as Rosas fostermor 1 episode Henrik Uldall as Rosas fosterfar 1 episode Elisabeth von Rosen as Sagsbehandler 1 episode Selma Musovski as Le's ven Fiona 1 episode Claudia Bækhave as Speaker 3 3 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Chestnut Man overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

detective based on novel or book investigation forest politician murder domestic abuse serial killer brutality young woman missing person psychological osama bin laden copenhagen interpol agent kids fun movie
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 29, 2021
Status
Returning Series
Episode Runtime
55 minutes
Origin
DK
TMDB Votes
673