The Unlikely Murderer (2021) User Reviews

Depressing

[ejh-60622 · 8/10 · 5 November 2021]

I watched it. Can imagine it being perceived as a bit slow and depressing by some, but the latter suggests the show captures the atmosphere at the time. Found it a bit weird that the info text about Stig Engström being the suspect (*and not proven*) was shown already by the end of the first episode. Everyone in Sweden knows the suggested story, but for people outside it must feel like a pretty significant spoiler?

I enjoyed watching the show though, mostly because I was intrigued beforehand and through the episodes. I don't have any personal theories. Not sure what to think since according to records with the Scandia guards, Engström briefly conversated for "a couple of minutes" after clocking out at 23:19 and before stepping out on the street. Even if "a couple of minutes" isn't correct, he definitely said more than just good night like in the scene, according to those records.

Anyways, in the last episode I was mostly just wondering about the personal relations. Did Margareta really get together with that mean guy? Or was that made up (either in Stig's head or by the writers)?

Did the mean guy's daughter actually attend the movie that night and did Stig have that conversation with her about her being "so close to save him"?

(Thought Eva Melander played the part as Stig's wife excellent.)

Objectivity or not?

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 19 November 2021]

If this shows us one thing, that it is impossible to trust eye witnesses. At least you should question most of them - so best way to know for sure is surveilance? Do we really want every inch of this planet to be filmed at all times? It would solve certain questions and problems ... on the other hand, forget about privace, not to mention that even that wouldn't be something that you could trust entirely (with hackers and software that can alter video footage and so forth).

All that aside (conspiracies be damned), the show goes on to bring us close to a murder mystery that some still may feel is not entirely solved. The main thing missing is the why - although if you google the case, you may be able to find an answer to that. But also just if you believe what this show is based on. It may be the most likely case (no pun intended) of what occured back then ... but who really knows? Still this is quite the intriguing if very slow burning retelling of what happened ... something that will excite certain people and not be enough for others.

The actors are great in this - and the subtle treatment works most of the time. You may feel like certain things are pointless, but such is life ... (un)like it or not.

Great Swedish Mini-Serie

[portal1790 · 8/10 · 9 November 2021]

When Olof Palme was murdered in the mid-1980s, a hope of Peace and Equity disappeared with him not only in Sweden but throughout Europe and why not the whole world. Before, during and after few Politicians had, have and/or will have the class and determination of Olof Palme. And despite many pointing out the person responsible for the murder, the truth is that until today no one has been held responsible for the tragic event. "The Unlikely Murderer" from 2021 is a faithful reenactment of one of the most controversial events of the 20th century. And just another great Swedish series distributed by Netflix. As a Biographical and Research Series "The Unlikely Murderer" is one of the most interesting of 2021.

A decent theory and a depressing portrait

[wiskeybreakfast · 6/10 · 5 November 2021]

Its more of a personal portrait than a thriller. A depressing portrait. The disastrous police investigation was mostly shown in the first parts of the series.

The hypothesis is not bad and Engström is clearly someone the police should have investigated further - but ignored. However...the explanations - the constant insinuations the creators have given Engström to enigmatically mumble from time to time - feels somewhat forced a lot of times. Every one of Engströms odd behaviors that is presented to the viewer and that tells you why he had the motivation and did the murderer, can easily just explain that he did and said all the contradictions just because he wanted some attention. Add the alcohol problems and the results will probably be confusing. It could have gone either way and we will never know.

To sum up - decent theory but not convincing.

Interesting story brought to life

[Calicodreamin · 7/10 · 8 November 2021]

An interesting true crime story and a good job bringing it to life. The characters were well acted and the storyline flowed easily. Toward the end it gets a bit cluttered with multiple time lines being developed, but it works out.

Nebbish yes; but like the guilty Lee Harvey Oswald, or the innocent Richard Jewel?

[random-70778 · 5 November 2021]

I was working in nearby Denmark when Palme was murdered. I'm not an expert at all but I have followed the news coverage of case then and all along.

I think the Swedish authorities and Swedish and general European press were caught up in the same kind of cognitive bias as occurred with Oswald, which was the core of fueling the conspiracy theories. To wit: How could Engstrom, this meaningless, pipsqueek, this nebbish, be the mover of such a large effect event? In the case of Oswald the evidence was so overwhelming. In the case of Engström the evidence was ignored because the press and much of the Swedish authorities were looking for a conspiracy. (It turns out to not be even poltical at all.) One would think the Nordic press would be staid and sober but the investigative journalists there were pumping every wild conspiracy theory including the absurd idea that the CIA was responsible. And the guy who was there, on the scene, had known access to handguns (rifles are/were common in Scandavian countries but pistols were NOT). He did not have an credible alibi. And he had a motive (a lifetime of insignificance and now being famous/hero).

I brought up Richard Jewel (falsely accused by FBI of 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing) , whom the US FBI destroyed, vilifying even after they knew he was innocent, because that was the opposite wing of the pendulum on the nebbish perpetrator. Jewel (like Engstrom) did have some inconsistences in his story, but those were from FBI high pressure, an unethical tactics with the problem ridden Clinton Attorney General Janet Reno wanting to close up the case without regard to doing it right. In that case FBI "profiling", which has failed countless times, including spectacularly during Unibomber, fit Jewel perfectly (and incorrectly) as a nebbish guy. Even though all the remaining evidence indicated he was innocent.

"The Unlikely Murderer" touches upon some of the most glaring screw-ups by the Swedish Authorities, but in my view does not do so nearly enough. This was a grand decades long sustained investigative cluster#&!k. Event the title is ironic, since, with the evidence Swedish authorities had within weeks of Palme's killing, it was clear that Engstom was NOT an "unlikely" assassin at all but quite likely

As a TV min-series I give this 5/10 as it is pretty mediocre and while critical, not nearly critical enough, of the Keystone cops running the successive investigations. Overall the pacing seems to contain a lot of filler and this could have been done in half the amount of screen time.

I am sure I will be marked as "unhelpful" by the conspiracy theorists still clinging to the disinformation spread by the KGB (and acknowledged as KGB generated nonsense by defectors), but there is no convincing of some people.

Almost a true story

[mvezok · 7/10 · 7 November 2021]

Apart from the fact that Engström hasn´t been convicted, almost everything else is authentic. The police was so "incompetent". They mostly tried to pin it on an alcoholic. The guy died recently and journalists went through his diaries. It wasn´t him.

The Engström theory appeared recently, when the latest investigator went through the material before the case was closed. It was conducted so incompetently. But Engström was dead and could not be trialed anymore.

What was avoided by all means was to investigate the Stay Behind / Gladio track, even though they had premises in the Skandia house and had been seen in town with walkie talkies. "They were chasing drug addicts." Why does no one react to vigilantes taking the law into their hands and why do anti-communist vigilantes chase drug addicts?

But what happened was that Sweden changed fundamentally then. Many financial interests benefited from Palme being cleared out of the way.

The path to neoliberalism was open.

Excellent Swedish Docu-Drama

[crumpytv · 9/10 · 25 November 2021]

Absorbing and extremely well crafted theoretical scenario to the murder of the Swedish Prime Minister in 1986.

Not the Swedish enforcement agencies finest moment by any stretch. It beggars belief how they were side-tracked by conspiracy theories and not looking closer to home even if this scenario is wrong. It is extremely doubtful that it will ever be proven one way or the other.

It was a very good and interesting watch.

Great subject but needs editing.

[hrpdepsub · 7/10 · 7 November 2021]

It was always a strange assassination because in a decade full of terrorism a prime-minister walked the streets without bodyguards. It's almost incomprehensible then and now. And however peaceful Sweden is/was the reality is that you are always going to come across an Oswald type oddball who happened to have a gun. Prominent people attract these types and there is no way around that.

The movie needed some serious editing to cut it down and it needed to explore the motivation more - it was never clear and everything got put in the proverbial pot.

It's strange to see a world without CCTV cameras and smartphones. If this happened today there would be dozens of cameras on him before the event and dozens of phones on him after it. He wouldn't have stood a chance.

Shockingly MUST watch

[gdbyehollywood · 8/10 · 7 November 2021]

The trailer doesn't do it justice.

I just wanted it just from the title. This was shockingly damn GOOD!! These cops dropped the ball from first hour! Continue to watch give excuses to the shooter. Dude was the idea killer but they just believed it had to be the CIA or some terrorist group. This is a slow drawn out good well written watch.

True Story/Strange Main Character

[lornak-18008 · 7/10 · 13 November 2021]

This was the story of the murder of the prime minister of Sweden in 1986. The killer is front and center throughout the story as we watch him try to be the hero of the story when in fact he is the culprit. He really was unique in how ridiculously stupid he acts after the murder. Insinuating himself into the investigation, not necessarily to the police-instead to the media. He loves the attention as he lies about everything even though there's witnesses to disprove it all.

What was interesting in particular to me was how out and out strange the main character really is-definitely not your normal run of the mill murderer. The actor did a fine job playing this person/unlikely murderer. We also get the perspective of the both the police and the media.

Rather than say anything else to spoil this, I'll just say that if you like Scandinavian mysteries you might enjoy this one and come away agreeing to how strange the main character really was. Oh, they show a few things about his childhood that I guess should make you feel sorry about his life but I didn't. See what you think!

Appreciate the honesty

[camimr-55885 · 10/10 · 5 November 2021]

Its always very good that poor policework no matter country get exposed.

Swedish films and series are amazing, Great acting.

The series also portray the events like they were , very close to reality.

Depending on your viewpoint - Engrossing or boring

[ChungMo · 6/10 · 13 November 2021]

Writing from the vantage point of another continent, I found the series interesting as a police procedural but overlong with long parts that drag. The pluses are watching the various personalities try to either find the truth or run from it. The character of the main suspect is fleshed out well but it takes too long to get to it. This is a series that is certainly more interesting to someone from Sweden or Europe. The parallels to the Kennedy assassination investigation are interesting but under the surface and not stated outright (or possibly not even intended).

An ambitious but flawed interpretation.

[Jadppe43 · 4/10 · 6 November 2021]

I do appreciate that they at least informed viewers at the beginning of each episode that this crime is still unsolved. I also like how they captured the time-period: Things like clothing, cars, and architecture feels really true to the mid-1980s Sweden. Robert Gustafsson's performance is also really solid, even if the writing of his character (Engström) is not really in line with how most people in his close proximity described him in real life.

Now, I feel like I need be honest. You see, when it comes to the murder of Palme, I'm a bit of a nerd. I've gone through some of the material revolving the investigation and I've even read the book of which this series is based on. With that being said, I was quite shocked when I saw how poorly this series re-enacts the actual murder. For someone who is at least somewhat well-informed, there are fatal mistakes to be found everywhere. Several witnesses being placed in entirely wrong places, the murderer running on the opposite side of a street, the size of the weapon, plenty of accounts that are totally ignored. I can go on and on.

It is abundantly clear that the people who directed/filmed this didn't do their research and it begs the question; why would you try to present this as a credible and legitimate theory if you're not going to pay any attention to many of the most fundamental facts? Personally, I'm not a believer in the theory presented but I still liked the idea of being able to immerse yourself in it though a tv-series. But it turned out near impossible to take any of it seriously due to the sloppy execution...

4/10.

Long, a little boring, and sometimes distractingly weird-looking.

[connorundrumme · 6/10 · 7 November 2021]

This Swedish drama based on facts is not a bad overall yarn, but its spun out across too much screen time, and the actors, makeup, and lighting sometimes made me think it was a sort of mid-budget theatrical production, or had some marked inexperience behind certain choices/aspects. There were continuity problems, and some of the dialog was seriously over-the-top (or repetitive) as well. Otherwise, a couple of the "Prolific Reviewers" have said the rest in their somewhat critical reviews.

Intriguing drama

[Vindelander · 7/10 · 14 January 2022]

Very interesting if a little annoying with all the jumping around between timeframes. An amazing story of gross incompetence by the Swedish police in contrast with the detectives in The Bridge and The Killing. Saga Noren would have solved it by episode 4 !!

Glad I watched it though as it's an amazing story and the acting was excellent by the main characters. I do hope the Swedes have tightened up on security in the light of these events.

Sadly pretty boring.

[Lukasmj · 7/10 · 16 November 2022]

On February 28, 1986, Swedish politician and Prime Minister Olof Palme is on his way home with his wife after going to the cinema. Suddenly, Palme and his wife Lisbeth are shot by a stranger on the street. She suffers minor injuries. However, Olof Palme dies immediately. The police take up the investigation, but grope in the dark. The unlikely murderer tells the story of the possible perpetrator Stig Engström, who was able to evade justice until his death through audacity and luck.

"The Unlikely Murderer" entertained me, but didn't really convince me.

Far too often you jump back and forth between the times, so unfortunately it confused me a bit.

The character Stig Engstrom is also boring, but maybe that's what he's supposed to be.

Anyway, I wouldn't watch this one a second time.

Very good as an entertainment.

[gimpera · 8/10 · 10 November 2021]

This is a good Swedish TV show. Since the plot is centered in the most traumatic event in recent swedish history, it is very difficult - if not impossible - to rate the effort on 'solving' Olof Palme's murder. It's based on a book and lacks any kind of political context. Which, in my opinion, would explain the actions - or any omission of them - that many of the characters took during the investigation.

My guess is the book doesn't dive much into politics either. Instead, it chooses to focus in a sad, lonely, and possibly deranged man, the Skandiamannen, who could be the one. Or just be a pathological liar crying for attention. It works as a fine piece of entertainment and it maintains the interest for the viewer. There are several lines delivered along the plot and in the credits taking the time to mention that all of it could be just another conspiracy theory. I lack any kind of expertise on Swedish politics. But it is a fact that Palme's murder remains unsolved. This show is meant to show just one of the theories. And that it does brilliantly.

the perp is our times everyman

[csteddy · 8/10 · 6 November 2021]

Glad that the perp was portrayed as the sad, little loser that he obviously was. Too bad the "visionary" Hans Holmer didn't get to see how posterity viewed him. Overall a good miniseries that captured the underlying motivations well.

Great effort of putting all pieces together

[finlirarn1 · 10/10 · 9 November 2021]

Great performance of Robert Gustafsson as Skandiamannen.

Also a great effort in explaining to details of what might have led up to the murder. There were some new information for me at least,and most seems to be correct and can be verified in different ways.

I guess being Swedish, remembering the murder probably helps making this series interesting for me. Also I have seen most of the actors in other roles. Apart from Gustafsson also Persbrandt and Rooney made some memorable performances.

Overall this series makes a great effort of putting all the bits and pieces together, leaving no stone unturned.

Yes... slow, ponderous, speculative and disappointing overall, for me.

[paraicm · 5/10 · 5 November 2021]

Well acted and produced, etc but coulda been delivered in HALF the time-or less!!! Very 'Swedish'. Provides an insight into sloppy police work, but otherwise... Could only rise to giving it a 5.

Pleasantly surprised

[gwannberg · 10/10 · 12 November 2021]

At first, this looked like a usual Swedish crime drama - and there are a lot of those, but I gave it a chance because I wanted to see how the "funniest man I Sweden", Robert Gustafsson, would carry such a dramatic role. And I was pleasantly surprised.

A lot of people know Gustafsson only as a comedian, because it was in comedy he got his big break, but he was a trained actor before he raised to comedic fame, so I think is nice to see him take on these kinds of roles. I think all parts were played well, but Gustafsson caried the show.

About the plot. Well, I thought it was interesting to see a dramatic reconstruction of what happened before, during and after the assassination of the prime minister Olof Palme in 1986 (I was 4 years old at the time, so I don't remember much).

Good film, unnecessary, distracting makeup choice

[cmcneil-52199 · 9/10 · 12 November 2021]

I enjoy Scandinavian crime films. This one was very well done.

The main actor appeared to be wearing prosthetic makeup and it was extremely unnatural. I don't know why they did that. I saw a photo of the actor on Rottentomatoes and his natural appearance would have been perfect for the character.

Overall a very good murder mystery

[Js-bingewatcher · 8/10 · 8 December 2021]

Solid depiction of what might had happened in the past, though many swedes would disagree but the series was great and somewhat different than many murder mysteries. Good job Netflix!

This man was never convicted

[danielillah · 1/10 · 5 November 2021]

This is pure disinformation and libel. Stig Engström died before he could be prosecuted and before any conclusive evidence was even obtained. The Palme investigation was a fiasco, hence why they had to pretend they actually had "something" upon closing the investigation. Utterly unprofessional and ethically indefensible, investigators and filmmakers alike. His next of kin should sue everyone propagating this lie.