The Chestnut Man


The Chestnut Man 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. The series was renewed for a second season in 2024, adding Sofie Gråbøl and Katinka Lærke Petersen to the cast; it is set to premiere in 2026.

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.

Cast and characters

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 and the series debuted on Netflix worldwide.

Reception

The Chestnut Man received generally favourable views from critics and holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on six critic reviews. Critics have described the show as "gripping" and "gruesome", while others, like Verdens Gang, described it as a "perfected cliche", while also giving it a four out of six on a dice roll.