Departamento Q: Em Busca de Vingança

This fourth movie in the Department Q series is the best one so far in my opinion. It was also the first of the films I saw without having read the book first. Hence my higher rating? Maybe. Anyway, it's a good and thrilling movie with some unexpected twists and a story inspired by true and horrific events.

Finally a new reunion with Carl Mørch and Assad with a new crime mystery, the fourth in the series and so far the last one that is planned. It's a shame if there aren't any more, because again this is awesome crime; exciting, unpredictable and raw. Unlike the previous films, the action here is more comprehensive with more elements than what is first assumed. The film manages to balance this well. Still, I think this is a small minus. The previous films were all about a particular event, which they investigated. Here, there are both conspiracy theories and more comprehensive, than the more linear predecessors. Nevertheless, this holds plenty. Contrary to all that goes on television of crime series and movies, Journal 64 is liberatingly different and much more exciting and therefore interesting for anyone who loves good crime.

As usual it's well acted, directed and atmospheric, but for being the darkest (there is truth loosely in the story) it is also the weakest. The problem is a couple of very daft scenes that really do detract, however it's still better than most movies based on novels. Carl and Assad are one of the best partnerships on screen and you do feel for how they have evolved. Pity this seems to be the final in the series.

I am a bit biased (fan of the series n the characters Carl, Assad n Rose) The film is very intriguing with enuff tension n a satisfying ending n it holds you in its grip from start to finish, with taut performances n some amazing cinematography. Inspite of the movie going backward n forward, it doesn't get incoherent at all. In the present we c two young girls enter an abortion centre n the flashback scene is of a man who puts his daughter in an institution as a punishment for being morally wrong. In the present, workers discover mummified bodies all connected with the same institution. While the mummified murder case is fresh, it is passed onto Department Q as the bodies has been ther since 12 years. While Assad has been promoted, Carl n Rose r still working in the basement aka Department Q pertaining to unresolved cases. Carl starts investigating n Assad too joins him as he has one more week left before his promotion.

The series reached its ceiling with the second and third episode. Here it lacks a final punch and some character depth, that was very welcome in the previous installments. Also, the circumstances of the murders are a bit weird and never really explained. Anyway, it's the usual two hours of nice entertainment.