The Simple-Minded Murderer (1982) User Reviews

Absolutely brilliant!

[AKS-6 · 8/10 · 18 April 2000]

"Den enfaldige mördaren" is without a doubt one of the best Swedish films ever made. It's a beautiful film, as well as a harrowing experience to watch. Stellan Skarsgård is magnificent in the role of Sven who is generally considered to be an idiot (because he is harelipped and he's therefore unable to speak clearly) -- even by his own sister Vera who is deeply ashamed of him. He gets a job at a factory owner's estate and is treated cruelly by that man (played by wonderful Hasse Alfredson, who also wrote the script and directed the film).

The film is fairly episodic but it definitely works in this film and as Sven's life gets better and better the pace becomes more "fluent", so to speak, which is really brilliant. The cinematography's brilliant as well. This is truly a great accomplishment.

Stellan's tour de force

[Mattias · 8/10 · 1 November 2001]

This is indeed Stellan Skarsgård's tour de force, playing Sven the fool. Playing a mentally disabled person is a challenge but Skarsgård manages it with grace, like Leonardo di Caprio in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'. The movie actually offers quite a few wonderful characterizations from some of the supporting actors as well, like Per Myrberg as the good-hearted farmer, Lars Amble as Bengt the driver or Carl Billquist as the maitre d'. The award for Best Swedish movie of the year was quite well deserved.

Powerful and admirable film by Hans Alfredson.

[EijnarAmadeus · 9/10 · 8 August 2012]

Den Enfaldige Mördaren deserves to be better known. It's a fabulous film directed by Hans Alfredson and stars Stellan Skarsgård in one of his most memorable performances as the hare-lipped young man Sven, who's considered retarded by his surroundings. He seeks consolation and spiritual strength in his faith and visions as his life becomes difficult and tormenting as a worker for the vicious local factory owner Höglund (played by Alfredson himself).

Superbly played out in a slight retrospective manner, the film beholds a major heart. The emotional aspect is big as we witness Sven throughout the film; his childlike manners and his close relation to his guardian angels, the way he gets involved with the girl-next-door, and getting the opportunity to step up and being treated as an adult, receiving weekly salary and learning how to drive a motorcycle. It's a moving journey of a man who everyone around him seems to misunderstand and neglect. These bright and uplifting moments in the film works as a great counterbalance to the darkness it beholds, especially in the character of Höglund - he's first presented to us lurking into the stable where Sven sleeps among the animals, and he speaks violently and shows no affect for Sven, who's just lost his mother. Höglund treats Sven's sister as meat, shows no affection for his wife and kids, and uses gruesome actions to behold power in the local county.

Den Enfaldige Mördaren is packed with symbolism and ideas, and it flows carelessly in place and time (we sense both the Middle Ages and something futuristic, and everything in between) and tells a tale a multi-layered tale, shuffling so many elements of humor, romance, spirituality, society's mangles, vengeance and adventure. It's a film that makes one enthusiastic about European cinema.

One of the best movies throughout the history of film.

[Marc-00 · 10/10 · 9 March 2001]

The directing (by Hasse Alfredson) and the cinematography (by Rolf Lindström and Jörgen Persson) are excellent. During the whole movie the audience can hear the bittersweet tones of Verdi's Requiem. Not also the actors makes this movie to a masterpiece. Maria Johansson is brilliant as the lame girl. But the best performance of them all is made by Stellan Skarsgård as Sven - "The Idiot" (because of his harelip). Skarsgård's performance may be the best throughout the whole history of Swedish film.

Sven and the other farmers over the countryside of Skåne, in southern Sweden, have to endure the mental torture from the factory owner in the district, The Evil Man, played by Hasse Alfredson himself. But after enough suffering, Sven gets enough and with the angels of vengeance he walks over the fields to kill The Evil Man, the factory owner. All this to the music of Verdi's Requiem. This scene may be one of the strongest ever throughout the FILM HISTORY. See this movie, but carefully, do not hesitate.

If only the Lumiere brothers could have seen this...

Imagine....then wake up and smell the coffee

[Shadowplayed · 8/10 · 26 June 2014]

Two things...made me pursue this film and write about it. Stellan Skarsgard, young Stellan Skarsgard. The Title.

Sven is poor, feeble minded young man, living with his mother in Swedish country making ends meat. Everyone regards him as village idiot and a fool, but what he can't show and verbally express (he's speaking with difficulty, mumbling words) he feels and in his mind vocalizes perfectly. This kind hearted fellow won't leave you cold if there's a shred of empathy left somewhere deep inside. His estranged sister whom he loves went away as young girl, and sickly mother soon dies. Sven is sent off to a cruel, wealthy landlord to sleep in a stable and do whatever crappy job is required of him, no fee, just food and lousy stable bench for bed.

This is arty drama, which focuses on Sven's inner world and his life as opposed to cruelty of his "master" and the unjust world he lives in. However, he will meet some very nice people who kindly save him from humiliation and take him in. There he falls in love with the family's disabled daughter (I know, kind of an overkill there) and finally, the world looks like a good place for the first time to Sven.

But, our unlucky protagonist was not meant for happiness, because things will go down for him and those around him pretty abruptly. This is not Swedish version of Forrest Gump, although it is sweeter and tad cornier than I'd hoped it would be. There is big social commentary, and no, not everyone will have equal rights and chance to fulfill their dream in this tale. Skarsgard is natural born actor, quite different here from his more mature and more popular roles, the body's thin and face lit, but crazy look in his eyes as a trademark is ever present. Marvelous actor.

One distinct element that places Simple Minded Murderer into art film category are strange visions, righteous angels of light and vengeance whom Sven hallucinates about and are following him through some tough times and key moments.

Beautiful film, gentle and mostly realistic with appropriate ending, which goes to show you can push the kind man only so far before he reaches his breaking point.

Maybe the Best Swedish film ever

[stefan.appelgren · 10/10 · 4 August 2000]

The two main actors (Hans Alfredsson and Stellan Skarsgård) make top performances in this movie about Evil personalized. It´s also a movie about Sweden in the late 30´s with poverty and pre-war nazism close at hand.

Brilliant, but not a comedy

[Skruttan · 10/10 · 7 July 2008]

This is one of the best Swedish movies of all(which many agrees with) and Stellan Skarsgårds performance is really worth an Oscar, although i can't understand why some people call this a comedy. This is a sad drama about a gentle poor boy and an evil. Hans Alfrdsons script(based on his book) is solid and his direction great and he is also good as the evil man. This is a movie which a lot of people has seen in Sweden but almost no one outside of Sweden, which is sad because i think everyone in the world should take their time and see this wonderful movie which makes you cry and think. Watch out for Gösta Ekman as a driver.

Not a comedy but one of the best films you'll ever see

[micmasters · 10/10 · 22 November 2009]

I've been looking to see this film again for about 20 years! I saw this in San Francisco during the 80's and was blown away. I was in my early 20's and loved watching foreign films (mainly Swedish, Italian and Australian at the time). This was one of those films that really sticks out in your mind...especially that it makes you sympathize with the main character and understand why he hallucinates angels. It should not be categorized as a comedy although there were very funny moments in it, I feel those moments were only there for comedic relief because the film was so heavy. It really made me cry and was extremely thought provoking. I'm so glad it's available on DVD now. I'm going to buy a copy right now.

Masterpiece!

[tependris · 9/10 · 27 December 2009]

Dazzling performances by both a young and hardly recognizable Stellan Skarsgard, as a simple minded man and movie's director Hans Alfredson as the movie's villain. They both give Oscar winning performances. The storyline is very intriguing, cinematography is close to perfection, the musical score flawless, the supporting actors play excellently, the pace of the movie, starting with the hero's flashbacks and revealing the past slowly and gradually till its climax in just the ending 5 minutes of the film, is superb! An enlightening film and as i'm informed one of the best Swedish movies ever! A must see for every cinephile who is fed up with Hollywood junk!

Stellan Skarsgard in young

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 11 August 2021]

I had to get that out - because I for one only got to know him way later in his career and was almost shocked seeing him young. I know I shouldn't be - but I just was. And maybe some other viewers will have the same feeling.

Of course that does not change much about the movie itself (if it does for you that is more than ok too). The drama works and no matter his age we know how good of an actor he is and he is showing it off here too. And he always had range - if you don't know .... well you do know now.

Not easy to stomach at times, maybe you disagree with the scenes that show a different reality (or fantasy or what you want to call it, especially towards the end). Well done on many aspects, but not for everyone.

As relevant as ever

[aleistad-1 · 9/10 · 15 September 2018]

As others have remarked, this may be the best movie to come out of Sweden. It both enrages and soothes, as it follows the oppression and uprising of the main character.

While it covers the tribulations and triumphs of the main characters perfectly, it's about so much more. It has a big heart and reminds you that overcomplicating things can lead us astray, whereas the purity of simplicity is sometimes what we should strive for, and it's a lesson in the corrupt nature of power.

The production may seem plain at first, but you'll soon realize that it's pitch perfect. Unfortunately I didn't see this movie before now - I, like every man, could have done well with the additional ballast that this piece of art provides.

Effortless

[henrysunbear · 10/10 · 31 May 2023]

Sometimes you watch a movie and you think to yourself "that was a really good movie." And sometimes you watch a movie and you don't have to think that because it was a really good movie. This is one of those movies.

I don't know what I could say in review that would be able to convince you of this movies quality other than simply encouraging you to watch it because I enjoyed it so much. The story sucks you in immediately so there is no need for me to preamble.

This is me hitting minimum characters because I have no more to say: I love Stellan Skarsgård, I love Stellan Skarsgård, I love Stell.