El mal (Evil)

This suffered from what so many dramas starring teens have a problem with - the main actors, including Isaac Calmroth playing Erik, are several years older than their purported ages, much older in fact. It doesn't do much for verisimilitude.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the series and would have given it an eight had the story not been changed to match some notion of political correctness. For goodness sakes! The action took place sixty odd years ago. Applying modern notions to a brutal story of the dreadfulness of Sweden's past just didn't cut it. Some of the scenes were true to life such as the scullery maids curtseying to the Matron, but notions of noble holding back in the face of overwhelming violence and wickedness are alien to the timeframe. The original book was far truer to the times than the series.

What came across really well in the series was the dichotomous nature of Sweden, proclaiming openness, social democracy, freedom, liberalism while in fact, horrors were going on both hidden and overtly.

Despite my reservations, I recommend this and watched it all over a two-day period.

I was somewhat surprised about this. I loved the book and the movie and didn't think this was needed.

Honestly it payed off, the acting is (for the most part) really good. The cinematography and blocking is on point and I honestly think this show as a much stronger theme. About the cyclical nature of power, abuse and violence.

Only things I didn't really like were the romance (no real chemistry between the actors and it felt underdeveloped) I also didn't really feel the relationship between Erik and Pierre. That was much better done in the film.

Overall tho. Great job!

I will never forgive Gustav Skarsgård after that scene.

Until I read some of the other reviews here I was not aware of the book or film, so I watched with no previous knowledge of the story. This is an excellent Swedish drama set in a boys boarding school in 1959. The school is effectively run by 'the prefects' who rule the younger boys with intimidation and violence. While this 'evil' is occurring the teachers keep out of the way, but are clearly aware of the brutality. If this sort of thing was prevalent in late 50's Sweden it's a bit of an eye opener and a long way from the 'niceness' that is ABBA. When Eric is sent there, being the only establishment that will accept him because of his own violent history, the prefects are not prepared for his challenging of their authority, so do their best to break him. A lot of moral statements are made in each episode as to why some people behave in this way. In Erics case he is regularly beaten by his father and witnesses his mother getting similar treatment, so takes out his anger on fellow pupils until he is expelled and sent to the boarding school. To add some light to the dark Eric has a relationship with a pretty kitchen assistant Marja which is strictly forbidden, of course. I found this a compelling series and at just six forty minute episodes it does not out stay it's welcome.

Evil, or "Ondskan" in Swedish, is a masterpiece of a tv show. Based on the best selling novel, the show fully encompass the themes and tone of the book, whilst cutting out some of the sillier plot points. It's telling how good a show is when, like me, you binge all six episodes in one evening!

I think this version is superior to the already brilliant film from 2003. The relationship between Erik and Marja is better developed and a lot of the other characters are more fleshed out owing to a longer run time in comparison to the film. The teachers are given more depth in the series, especially Tosse Berg, the sports coach. Pierre is given a lot to do as well. However, I preferred the villainous and abuse enabling headmaster from the 2003 film, and I'm not sure which of the evil step Fathers were played better. Although, I did love that Gustaf Skarsgard, who played the main bully, Silverhielm, in the original film also plays the abusive Step Father here.

Erik's backstory is told properly here as well, unlike in the film where it's skimmed over, and the cinematography and sound design are brilliant here. Some of the acting may have been better in the film but the dialogue and atmosphere in the series is unbeatable.

10/10: A masterpiece of a series, and I feel sorry for people outside Sweden who haven't heard of it, or can't find where to watch it.

This TV-show is a cinematic masterpiece. Finally, Sweden has truly succeeded with a series that people didn't think could reach such high quality like the movie. People often want to compare it to the 2003 film, and I understand that. It was superb, no doubt. However, this series portrays Ponti and his life much better, giving us a stronger insight into how everything really was. Incredibly talented actors, many of whom are not well-known, have barely been on the big screen, but are now getting their chance of a lifetime. Really uplifting and innovative. A heartfelt thank you goes to Isac Calmroth (Erik Ponti), Gustaf Skarsgård (Åke Ponti), and Christian Fandango Sundgren (Otto Silverhielm) for their outstanding performances.