"The Valhalla Murders" Review: If You Like Nordic Noir, This Icelandic Police Procedural Is Worth A Watch

"The Valhalla Murders" is currently available on NetFlix. The eight part Icelandic series is based on an IRL home for troubled boys that operated during the 1940s. While no one was killed, plenty of unspeakable horrors occurred there.

As "The Valhalla Murders" opens we see a woman trapped under what I assume is a boat cover and a car towing it. Rewind to 12 days earlier. The woman we first saw is Kata (Nina Dogg Filippusdottir). She is a Reykjavik police officer. Kata is called to investigate the murder of a man named Thor. One of the strange things about the case is his eyes are mutilated. Next a man named Omar is killed. Again, same MO.

Kata is supposed to get a big promotion but police commissioner Magnus (Sigurour Skulaso) gives it to someone else. Kata is obviously upset. She's also juggling issues at home. She and her ex share a teenage son who is getting into trouble. Add to that, Magnus has assigned another officer to assist in her investigation. Is a serial killer on the loose? If so, it would be Iceland's first. Magnus tried to conceal the information from the public so as not to panic everyone. Arnar (Bjorn Thors) is originally from Iceland but currently works in Oslo, Norway. He too has lots of personal baggage. The two fficers eventually learn to work together as a tea.

One interesting aspect of the story is that the police often are not armed. How very different from cops in the US-- they're never without firepower. Kata and Arnar are often in dangerous situations with nothing but their wits to guard them.

As with may Icelandic offerings, the environment acts as almost another character. There are lots of overhead shots of cars driving on snowy roads, barren landscapes and isolated buildings in the distance. It all gives the story an otherworldly feel.

I don't want to say anything else about the story so as not to spoil it. There are plenty of fun twists and turns. Will Arnar and Kata crack the case or will the killer get them them first?

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). If you like Nordic Noir, this Icelandic police procedural is definitely worth a watch.The ending leaves room for a season 2. Will there be one? If so, count me in.