| Genre | |
|---|---|
| Creator |
|
| Director |
|
| Developer |
|
| Starring |
|
| Composer | Kristian Eidnes Andersen |
| Country | Denmark |
| Language | Danish |
| Num seasons | 2 |
| Num episodes | 12 |
| Producer |
|
| Executive producer |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Editor |
|
| Location | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Company | SAM Productions |
| Runtime | 43–59 minutes |
| Network | Netflix |
| First aired | 29 September 2021 |
| Last aired | present |
The Chestnut Man (Danish: Kastanjemanden) is a Danish crime series released on Netflix on 29 September 2021. The series was created by Dorte Warnøe Hagh, David Sandreuter, and Mikkel Serup, is directed by Kasper Barfoed and Mikkel Serup and is based on the book of the same name by Søren Sveistrup. The series stars Danica Curcic and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Naia Thulin and Mark Hess, who investigate the dismemberment and murders of several mothers in Copenhagen by a serial killer who leaves figurines made of chestnuts at the crime scenes.[1][2][3] The series was renewed for a second season in 2024, adding Sofie Gråbøl and Katinka Lærke Petersen to the cast. It premiered on 7 May 2026, under the title The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek.[4][5]
Synopsis
The Chestnut Man opens with the discovery of the murder of an entire family on an isolated farm in 1987. More than thirty years later, in present-day Copenhagen, a young woman is found murdered in a playground, her left eye cut out and one of her hands missing. Detective Naia Thulin is assigned to the case. With her reluctant new partner, Mark Hess, they notice a tiny figurine made of chestnuts lying next to the body. A mysterious piece of evidence is soon discovered on the chestnut man—the fingerprint of a missing girl, the daughter of politician Rosa Hartung.[6][7]
Cast and characters
- Danica Curcic as Naia Thulin, an investigator with the Copenhagen police[8]
- Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Mark Hess, an investigator from Europol who temporarily returns to Copenhagen
- David Dencik as Simon Genz, a forensics worker with the Copenhagen police and close friend of Thulin and Hess
- Lars Ranthe as Nylander, Thulin's boss
- Iben Dorner as Rosa Hartung, the Danish Minister of Social Affairs, whose daughter Kristine has disappeared
- Esben Dalgaard Anderssen as Steen Hartung, Rosa's husband
- Liva Forsberg as Le Thulin
- Louis Næss-Schmidt as Gustav Hartung
- Ali Kazim as Nehru
- Anders Hove as Aksel
- Elliott Crosset Hove as Linus Bekker
- Sofie Gråbøl as Marie Holst (season 2)
- Katinka Lærke Petersen as Sandra Lindstrøm (season 2)
Development
On 19 August 2019, Netflix announced its second Danish series at the Copenhagen TV Festival. The Chestnut Man is based on the debut novel by award-winning writer Søren Sveistrup (The Killing) and the series debuted on Netflix worldwide.[9]
Reception
The Chestnut Man received generally favourable views from critics and holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on six critic reviews.[10] Critics have described the show as "gripping" and "gruesome",[11] while others, like Verdens Gang, described it as a "perfected cliche", while also giving it a four out of six on a dice roll.[12]
References
- ^ Miska, Brad (7 September 2021). ""The Chestnut Man": Netflix Summons New Horror Series September 29th [Images]". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "'The Chestnut Man': The Latest Danish Netflix Obsession Is Like Watching a Bestselling Mystery Novel". indiewire.com. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "The Chestnut Man: Netflix users rave about 'brilliant' and 'creepy' serial killer series". independent.co.uk. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Alt vi ved om sæson 2 af 'Kastanjemanden': Sofie Gråbøl og børneremser" [Everything we know about season 2 of 'The Chestnut Man': Sofie Gråbøl and children's strips] (in Danish). kino.dk. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ Netflix (25 February 2026). "The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek Can Be Found on Netflix on May 7". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ Scott, Sheena. "'The Chestnut Man': Chilling New Nordic Noir Series on Netflix". Forbes. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ "The Chestnut Man – Netflix Official Site". Netflix. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ Scott, Sheena. "'The Chestnut Man': Netflix Drops First Teaser of Upcoming Nordic Noir Series". Forbes. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "About Netflix – Acclaimed Novel Becomes a Netflix Original Series". About Netflix. Retrieved 21 June 2021.[dead link]
- ^ "The Chestnut Man". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "The Chestnut Man, Netflix, review: Gripping and gruesome – exactly what you expect from The Killing creators". iNews UK. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "TV-anmeldelse "Kastanjemannen": Perfeksjonerte klisjeer" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.