A vicious murder leads an elderly inspector down the path of a long-forgotten cold case full of twists and turns in this slow-burning police procedural.
When an elderly man is found murdered in his basement flat, a photo of a young girl’s grave at the scene leads police to a small isolated village, where a bungled 30-year-old murder investigation was performed by a corrupt former officer. Working to string together the threads between the two crimes, the investigation leads Inspector Erlendur to the national genetic database – and a startling secret that is threaded into the bloodline of an entire country.
A box office hit in its native Iceland, this taut thriller manages to engage the audience with an array of morally-grey characters and a central crime that is in some ways less despicable than those who attempt to uncover its secrets. Inspector Erlendur is a breath of fresh air, a hardened cop with a no-nonsense approach that stomps on toes and pushes moral boundaries in his quest for the truth. Yet his foe, are equally as dangerous and as a viewer you find yourself drawn into the mysteries of not only one, but a number of crimes.
After such a strong set up, Jar City’s eventual conclusion – which is much less violent and conspiracy based we are set up for – is somewhat of a let down. Still, with its haunting bleak scenery and small town secrets this one will be right up the alley of fans of Insomnia and Fargo.
Rating: three stars
Jar City is released on DVD through Madman Entertainment. Special features include the original trailer.
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