Nordic Noir Goes True Crime on Netflix... (The Lørenskog Disappearance REVIEW)

Does anything have the power to capture the attention quite so much as a true, unsolved crime? Especially when it involves a missing person… someone whom no one would ever expect to vanish into thin air, one day? 

The sudden absence of such a person is the object of The Lørenskog Disappearance, on Netflix.

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A true-to-life case, The Lørenskog Disappearance tells the story of Anne-Elisabeth Hagen—the septuagenarian wife of a Norwegian billionaire, and mother to their middle-aged children—who disappeared on the last day of October, 2018. She was reported missing by her husband Tom, who told police he'd returned home from work, after failing to reach her by phone, only to find an empty house… with signs of a struggle (some blood, a lone shoe, etc.) the only real indication that something untoward must have happened.

Eventually, a ransom demand (of sorts) was made: X-amount of money to be transferred online via Bitcoin, after which Anne-Elisabeth might be returned.

No police were to be involved (as is the norm in every kidnapping case, which everyone who’s ever watched a ransom movie knows)… so of course, the first thing the distraught husband, Tom Hagen, did, was… contact the police. [Not that you could really blame the guy, right? We all know that’s pretty much what most of us would wind up doing, so…] But then—as is probably also typically the case—things most definitely did not go to plan, from that point, on.

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Over the course of a tight five episodes (an odd number, even for a “limited series”)—and spanning the space of some two years—the story unfolds, and we, as the audience, see it happening through different perspectives… that of the police investigating the disappearance; the journalists covering the story; the lawyers involved in trying to prosecute someone, and those defending the accused; and the informants, doling out whatever bits of info they may possess, in hopes of getting something in return.

Falling neatly under the heading “Nordic Noir” (which, if you’ve been with me for awhile, you already know is among my favorite things to watch and read), The Lørenskog Disappearance is actually a first for me, being a true-crime tale. 

One thing I really enjoy about Nordic Noir is that there's usually more of a slow-burn to get "there", but YMMV, as they say. [To wit, I know a few people who only watch movies--not series--because they lack the patience needed, to go in-depth with anything. Me, I'm all about digging into all those layers. So, this is an important thing to understand about yourself, is all I'm sayin', here.]

Although certain liberties have been taken (as we learn via a series of quickly-moving screens during the opening credits), for the purposes of creating a more cohesive storyline for viewers, a genuine sense of urgency—and uncertainty—is well-conveyed, throughout. The missing Anne-Elisabeth is healthy enough, but no longer young; who knows what such an ordeal might do to this poor woman? 

But, of equal import is the sense of quiet desperation which permeates the story, as the days turn into weeks, then months, and finally… into years, with no answers. The family—husband and adult children—are put through the emotional wringer. The police are taking the case deadly seriously, working long hours and following every possible clue… but have no leads strong enough to solve it. The media cover every minute tidbit that comes their way (or is leaked)… yet have no amazing breakthroughs or fresh insights, either. A case like this takes its toll on everyone. 

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I have a feeling this will be a polarizing watch for a lot of people… particularly those who prefer their stories tied up with neat little bows. [Spoiler alert: if that’s you, then you may be better off skipping The Lørenskog Disappearance.]  

On the other hand, if your outlook on life accepts that it’s often messy, and concedes that things don’t always have tidy resolutions—that the journey can be at least as important as the destination, basically—then this might be a great fit for you.

I’m still processing it all… which to me, says it made an impact, on multiple levels.

~GlamKitty