Evil (2023– ) User Reviews

Almost great

[heman-23137 · 8/10 · 2 December 2023]

I was somewhat surprised about this. I loved the book and the movie and didn't think this was needed.

Honestly it payed off, the acting is (for the most part) really good. The cinematography and blocking is on point and I honestly think this show as a much stronger theme. About the cyclical nature of power, abuse and violence.

Only things I didn't really like were the romance (no real chemistry between the actors and it felt underdeveloped) I also didn't really feel the relationship between Erik and Pierre. That was much better done in the film.

Overall tho. Great job!

I will never forgive Gustav Skarsgård after that scene.

Superb except..

[lennieforsberg · 9/10 · 17 November 2023]

Great remake of the original film. First I thought it was unnecessary to make a new series out of a superb movie. The acting, the setting and the storyline is great! It's definitely worth watching.

The only thing I don't like is Marja's reaction to when Erik hit Otto back. What did she expect? That Erik would just stand there and do nothing? It portrays a stereotypical picture of women always choosing peace and being innocent. I mean, she's not the one getting beat up so it's easy for her to say what he should have done. Just because he hits back, as he should according to me, it doesn't mean that he's violent and evil.

BUT except from that I love it.

Good but not great

[dwiimor · 7/10 · 5 January 2024]

There is almost no way to not compare this from the movie with the same title from 2003, but since I do not remember most of the movie I think my views are somewhat non-biased.

The acting was really good for most parts, and I love that Gustaf Skarsgård got a role in this one since he also played in the movie. A few minor supporting actors were so-so. The first 2 episodes were really good on all fronts and exciting, after that it got quite boring actually since there was alot of dialouge with the girl that felt like nonsense since she was acting very dramatic and a bit hypocritical for me.

The show took a better turn towards the last episode by making the viewer feel closure and some kind of justice. If it was the justice I expected or prefered I will leave unsaid. Overall this would have been done better as a 2h movie in my opinion, but it still holds up on the positive side of the review scale.

Great! 👍

[oscarjneklund · 10/10 · 10 November 2023]

This TV-show is a cinematic masterpiece. Finally, Sweden has truly succeeded with a series that people didn't think could reach such high quality like the movie. People often want to compare it to the 2003 film, and I understand that. It was superb, no doubt. However, this series portrays Ponti and his life much better, giving us a stronger insight into how everything really was. Incredibly talented actors, many of whom are not well-known, have barely been on the big screen, but are now getting their chance of a lifetime. Really uplifting and innovative. A heartfelt thank you goes to Isac Calmroth (Erik Ponti), Gustaf Skarsgård (Åke Ponti), and Christian Fandango Sundgren (Otto Silverhielm) for their outstanding performances.

Great adaptation and remake

[martinpersson97 · 9/10 · 1 December 2023]

This is indeed one of the better shows of the year, which is no small feat, to be sure, lots of great dramas and other genres being released as per usual - and very much a great second adaptation of the book, and the masterful award winning original film.

It does not merely set out to tell a shot-for-shot remake, but delves into its own tone, whilst staying true to the original work (in some ways more so than the original film), and it works wonderfully. The actors all do an incredible job, Gustaf Skarsgård makes a welcome return as another character, and brings another, terrifying and dark dimension to it.

The cinematography, cutting and editing is great. Great imagery, great shooting.

Overall, definitely a highly recommended drama!

Bad towards the end

[guslundstrom · 7/10 · 8 December 2023]

I have seen the old movie and read the book and i think that this is a great interpretation of Jan Guillou's original story. A thing i did not like is that the end felt rushed, all this buildup for a bland ending. Those who have read the book knows that the original ending of this story is extreamly violent and the series undermines that. It feels like the series peaks in the middle while the book constantly climbs towards the end. I still tink this is very good and i would have lovet it even more if i did not know the story inte book.

Was it worth watching?, Yes.

Would i watch it again?, Mabye.

Wonderful until the last episode

[woxell-598-463944 · 5/10 · 3 December 2023]

Really liked this produktion until its time to wrap it up.

Deeply disappointed on how they altered the ending so extremly far from the book. Now the end is a catastrophy...

I was waiting for Erik to go into the Woods with his mask, and the climax of when he locks his door with his stepfather inside.

Also i found that the friendship with Pierre should have been more developed, it could have been better portrayed.

Also the relationship with Marja could have been portrayed better.

No, this series should have had at least 3 or 4 more episodes to explore these relationships and Eriks development after Pierre leaves the school.

Really want to read the book again.

Amazing until the disastrous last episode

[emspet98 · 5/10 · 3 December 2023]

I absolutely loved the book and until the very last episode of the series I was thrilled. The casting is amazing, the acting is fantastic, the environments are perfect and the production was great. But then the last episode happened. The book is about underdogs and revenge as well as the constant question, what is good and what is evil. At the end of the book the main character gets back on both the bullies and his dad through the use of violence. It's extremely satisfying but you still have the question in the back of your mind "isn't this kind of evil as well, should I question the pleasure I'm experiencing right now"?

The series completely throws this out the window. In the last episode the mum has broken free from Erik's dad by her own and comes rushing to his aid and get the main bully expelled and then they seriously goes to the police and the dad gets arrested. All the difficult choices are gone and the series leaves me with the question, why didn't they just go to the police after then first episode and end it all. In an era where some series have started daring to admit that evil depends on your point of view (like the amazing "Last of us" built upon the game with the same name) this is a complete let down.