Le coupable idéal

The story of Thomas Quick fascinated me from around 2014 when I watched the documentary by Hannes Råstam for the first time. I read his book, and the book from Dan Josefsson as well as Josefsson's follow up documentary.

I read the book by Quick's brother, as well as other works, becoming fascinated with the story.

A large reason for this was the mechanism of "repressed memories". Having grown up in the 90s watching the X Files and psychological thrillers this was hard fact. As late as 2010 we got the movie Shutter Island which also revolves around repressed memories, the notion that the mind "locks away" horrifying events that can be recalled back by skilled psychologists.

Thomas Quick ended up in the hands of those who believed they were skilled.

My world view of repressed memories was totally shattered by Hannes Råstam and I don't believe in it today at all. My expectations going into the movie were therefore astronomical.

Fortunately they pull off this investigative story from the perspective of Hannes Råstam exceptionally well. Jonas Karlsson is excellent as Hannes, Alba August puts Jenny Küttim in the spot light she deserves (she was absent from the documentary) and David Dencik is an excellent Thomas Quick. Dencik was also personally fascinated by the case and had previously read many books about it which shows with the attention to detail.

Everything from setting, clothes, hair, photographs and video tapes are recreated in an authentic way, and also a very captivating way. It's easy to watch the 2 hours in one sitting, feeling the weight of "what the hell am I doing" from Hannes, and the feeling of being trapped by Thomas Quick. The feeling of "what the hell happened" by the ones involved with a consciousness.

This is one of the best true stories put to Swedish film, and there are a few scenes which stand out as heart warming, and deeply emotional.

I love this movie.

And Its the story about the alleged serial killer thomas quick...again... a charade of judicial and psyciatric blunder that have bred a lot of sadness and fright in the foremost swedish society, but also here in norway. do admit a murder and youll get pills, and even more pills if it coincides with our theories. time it well and admit 8,10,or 30 murders, that will gain a lot of benzodiazepines....over many years

when films like these are made i feel soo sorry for all the families that have lost and never found their dear ones due to crime, and my heart really bleeds for them, as well as it bleeds for mr råstam, who made shockingly good journalism at his best.

the story delves over a relative short timespan, but gives a thorough introduction to the quick case and the obsessive and narcisistic besserwissers within surtain parts of sweedish psyciatry and policing.( i know there are people that dont like this) and the worst part of it all is that there have never been investigated any other suspects or theories, and its basiclly acknowledged that the true suspect will never be found.

its as usual a good sweedish film production, good acting a good story, though with a lot of flashing back which can be a bit confusing. its hard to make an ending to stories like this, but i think its quite an honour to the journalist and the journalism.

its a 9 from the grumpy old man, i had low expectations so im pleasantly surprised. its a recommend

Couldn't see more than 30 min. Bored me too much. Too confusing and not interesting at all... Can not understand how anyone liked it. There is nothing else to be said about it! Just a bad movie.

My kind of movie with human realism and a story without visual effects. Human relations and dedication at its best

Putting miscarriage of justice on screen is no easy task. Bureaucracy and law is usually not as entertaining as shooting gangsters, wars or superheroes. However, Mikael Håfström pulls this off in a very good manner with help from two well-crafted acting performances from David Dencik and Jonas Karlsson. It's, without a doubt, Håfström's best achievement since his Oscar nominated Evil (2003).

The movie portrays how Thomas Quick was manipulated into confessing over 30 murders; thereafter convicted for eight of them. Even though the focus of the film is on Quick, it's not an understatement to say that the film manages to display how essential journalism is in modern day society. Had it not been for Hannes Råstam, an investigative journalist with a brilliant mind, this story might have never seen the light of day. It is also a reminder of why it's important that we hold people working for the justice system, police force and health care to very high standards. If one is interested in law, psychology, human behaviour and/or journalism - this is a must watch.

The uncovering of this drama has led to numerous documentaries and books being written about the case. It is a legal scandal without comparison in Swedish judicial history; a case which should interest people outside of its borders. Watch it, now.