Huset

I am a retired UK prison officer and hardly ever watch prison drama's, but watched this because I thought it would be interesting to see how another European country, Denmark, runs their jails, albeit in a work of fiction.

The story concentrates on four officers and their interactions with the prisoners and to a lesser extent with their families. The prison appears to be an old establishment, not too dissimilar to the one I worked in. All the usual ingredients of prison dramas are included, violence, drugs, staff corruption and trafficking. Sophie Grabal plays the mature officer who has problems with her druggie son, David Dencik is the officer who turns a blind eye to the drug culture to have a quiet life, Youssef Wayne Hvidtfeldt is the naive rookie and Charlotte Fitch is in charge of the wing who has to oversee the clampdown on discipline to please the prison inspectors who are threatening to close the prison down.

One thing I found odd is that all the staff had the same rank insignia, including Fitch who was the boss.

Anyway, despite the usual cliches in this sort of drama, I found it an enjoyable series and at just six episodes never drags.

I have no idea if this is a realistic depiction of a Danish Jail, but certainly many of the procedures would not be permitted in a UK establishment. All the actors were good, particularly David Dencic as the unlikable Henrik.

A slightly grim, but entertaining series.

The great Sofie Grabol is one of an ensembl cast in 'Prisoner', a Danish drama that explores the nightmare of the prison system, mostly from the perspective of the guards. Grabol is good as expected, but the whole cast play their roles nicely, although it was probably guilding the lilly a bit to have all three of the major characters compromised (albeit in different ways) by their relationships to prisoners. In spite of this, the individual elements of the story have a grimly plausible feel, and reminds one of how unwilling we are as a society to take the custody and rehabilition of criminals with the seriousness it deserves.

Great storyline and even greater camera and editing work. The viewer gets a real sense of being locked up as a prison guard with a bunch of violent criminals. Who can you trust? Who will get jumped?

The claustrophobic feeling is so central, you even see it in the guard's private sphere. This is best represented by the guard Henrik who is living with his family in a damp caravan because his house is infested. Phenomenal symbolism!

I don't give much for the critics saying it's not a representation of real prison life. It's not a documentary - but a great fiction drama.

Season one's ending does however go a bit over the top. And things like the constant rain for dramatic effect does become a bit annoying.

A dark tale of people going down, because conditions, because they are trapped in a fight they can't win, a game where everyone loose. Where there is only bad choices and you are doomed no matter what you do. Where humanity and good is always seen as weakens and punished.

There are small clues on how to escape, that the house must be torn down, but it seems a little bit out of context.

But does it work then. Well, yes and no. I have problems with credibility. I don't really think that everyone in that world act that stupid. I don't believe that Danish prisons are like that.

I have a problem with the scenography. It seems too ordinary, too much like every day. It does not set a scene in which the events seems likely. The characters seems to much like you and me, to act like they do. Maybe a slight touch of darkness and some background noise could do it.

It is probably a educated choice of the creators, to make the events happen in a recognizable world. But the distance, verfremdungseffekt, that could make me believe in the story and the characters are missing.

But still, it is a good series, it is worth watching. Well done.

Huset aka Prisoner is a powerful and dark Danish prison drama that focuses on the lives of four prison officers rather than the inmates. Over 6 tense episodes, the story builds slowly but surely, exploring how stress, relationships, and personal struggles affect people working in a tough environment. The prison itself is under threat of closure, adding more pressure to an already broken system.

Sofie Gråbøl stands out in her role as Miriam, a kind-hearted officer who is pushed to her limits. Many would know her from The Killing, and she brings the same intensity here. The whole cast gives excellent performances, above all, Youssef Wayne Hvidtfeldt as Sammi, the young officer dealing with emotional and moral conflict, and David Dencik as Henrik, a fatigued veteran who teaches Sammi the off-book secrets to maintaining a peaceful prison environment.

The show feels very real, with its dark lighting, tight spaces, and simple camera work that puts you right inside the prison. It's not just about crime or violence - it's about people trying to survive and stay true to themselves in a place that constantly tests their limits.

While some parts might feel a bit heavy or even stereotypical, the drama keeps you hooked. It also raises big questions about justice, morality, and what it means to protect others while staying human. The final episode brings all the tensions together in a powerful way.

If you enjoy serious dramas with emotional depth and strong performances, Huset is definitely worth watching.