Les enquêtes d'Erica: La reine de la lumière

Another film made after a Camilla Läckberg crime novel about the murders in the small town Fjällbacka. The novels are written in a quite contrived way, and the films follow up this. I think the script could have enhanced this, but Läckberg herself has been involved in the script writing, I understand.

This is a made for TV production based upon a formulaic storytelling. The local police is investigating into a case with a missing teenage girl which has several layers, of some going way back in time. Then we see the up-building to where a bastard of boss of a herring factory, very much disliked by most, and obviously also having an affair with the young girl.

The whole storytelling is made in a very obvious way. The problem is that it is difficult to believe in so much of the story. It's quite amateurish in many ways, even if they use good actors. Even photography is formulaic and annoying. Especially the close up focusing of tea cups and the use of hand-held camera.

The film fails to engage, and every now and then i t tries and almost does, the hopeless dialog ruins it. If you are a love of Swedish crime dramas you will have problems in appreciate this. It feels easy, cheap, formulaic and contrived. Difficult to recommend even for easy watching.