The Chestnut Man, a Danish crime thriller released in 2021, is gaining a new wave of fans who are hooked on its chilling storyline.
The series, which is based on the bestselling novel by Soren Sveistrup, begins with the gruesome discovery of a young woman’s body.
The crime scene alone is unsettling as the woman’s body is missing a hand, and above her hangs a tiny man made of chestnuts.
Detectives Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) and Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Folsgaard) are tasked with the case and discover sinister connections to the disappearance of a politician’s daughter a year earlier.
Viewers can’t get enough of the series, with many taking to social media to share their excitement.
One fan on Facebook raved: “The Chestnut man, HUHHHH loved watching it. Finished in 2 days man!!! For people who love crime thrillers, recommended !!”
Another viewer was still thinking about the show months later: “10/10 definitely one of my favorite thrillers. I watched it in November and I still think from time to time about how great this thriller was.”
A third user on X (formerly Twitter) gushed about the show, writing: If you’re looking for a good series on Netflix to watch, The Chestnut Man is a crime drama/mystery based in Denmark and one I recommend. It has a beautiful autumnal look to it and a creepy story to follow. I enjoyed it.”
The series has a 100% rating on the Tomatometer and an 82% rating on Popcornmeter, with many critics calling it one of the best thrillers in years.
Aaron Phillips, from But Why Tho? A Geek Community, praised the show’s dark atmosphere: “The Chestnut Man Season 1 was surprisingly chilling, and yet it was such a delightfully dark binge I couldn’t help but love it.”
Graeme Tuckett, who writes for Stuff.co.nz, pointed out that Scandinavian crime dramas continue to set the bar: “The Chestnut Man is a great reminder that the Scandinavians still do this stuff better than anyone. It raises the bar. See it before there’s an American remake.”
“It’s a prime example of why Scandi noir is such a popular genre,” Joel Keller from the Decider added.
If you’ve already watched Season 1, there’s more to come as in March 2023, Netflix confirmed a sequel series, with Curcic and Følsgaard set to return.
The Chestnut Man is available to stream now on Netflix.
