New Danish thriller praised for pace, criticized for clichés

Denmark's latest thriller, "Dobbeltspil," has opened to a divided critical reception, with reviewers acknowledging its high tempo and unpredictable narrative while lamenting its predictable tropes. The film, a collaboration between directors Julie R. Ølgaard and Esben Tønnesen, who previously made "Englemageren," is described as an improvement on their debut but still falls into generic territory.

Politiken awarded the film three out of six hearts, stating that as a psychological drama, it "lacks characters" and the nuances needed to spark genuine curiosity about the hidden depths. Similarly, Filmmagasinet Ekko gave it three out of six stars, highlighting its rapid pace and numerous twists as strengths that keep it engaging, likening its movement to an "epileptic cobra with small, unpredictable venomous strikes in all directions."

However, Ekko also suggested the film could be more impactful if it concentrated on the essence of deception rather than indulging in "square evil." Soundvenue offered a harsher critique with only two out of six stars, pointing to "supervillain overacting and a lack of narrative flair" as significant issues. They noted that the numerous revelations occur too rapidly for the audience to connect with the relationships or be truly surprised.

Information concluded that "Dobbeltspil" fails to deliver a proper "Danish scare," with its chaotic elements appearing as a "trivial playthrough of old clichés." The review suggested the film is more silly than frightening, ultimately failing to achieve the desired level of suspense or horror.