The Snowman 2017 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Snowman 2017

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2017

18%

WISE Score

A legendary disaster of a thriller that’s more famous for its missing plot points than its scares.

The Snowman 2017

movie

2017

18%

WISE Score

A legendary disaster of a thriller that’s more famous for its missing plot points than its scares.

Jump to

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Look, sometimes a movie is just a car wreck. The Snowman is that car wreck. It’s based on a great book by Jo Nesbø, but the film version is famously botched. The director, Tomas Alfredson, later admitted they were on such a rushed schedule in Norway that they didn't even film the whole script.

If you're looking for a tight mystery or a family movie night, this is the wrong place. It’s dark, it’s bloody, and most importantly, it doesn’t make a lick of sense. If your kid sees the title and thinks it's a sequel to the cute 1982 cartoon, run the other way.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults. Between the R-rated gore and the fact that the plot is a total mess, there is zero reason for a kid—or even most teenagers—to sit through this.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a grim, R-rated crime thriller about a serial killer who dismembers victims. It's the polar opposite of wholesome.

Imaginative

While it tries to capture the 'Nordic Noir' aesthetic, the story is famously incoherent due to production issues where they literally forgot to film part of the script.

Safe

Heavy on gore, disturbing crime scenes, sexual content, and a generally oppressive atmosphere. Not for kids, and barely for adults.

Enriching

There's no moral or intellectual payoff here, just a botched attempt at a mystery that fails to resolve its own plot points.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Stunning scenery of Norway that captures the cold, bleak vibe of the source material perfectly.
Michael Fassbender does his absolute best to hold together a character that the script keeps failing.
Cinematography by Dion Beebe is actually quite good, even if the movie around it is falling apart.

⚠

What to Watch For

Graphic dismemberment is a central theme; the killer uses a high-tech wire trap to remove limbs.
Incoherent storytelling makes the movie feel like a fever dream because the director admitted they didn't shoot 10-15% of the script.
Nudity and sex scenes that feel tacked on and add to the overall 'adults-only' nature of the film.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the filmmakers left out so many important parts of the story?"
"How does the setting of a cold, snowy landscape change the 'vibe' of a scary movie?"
"If you were a detective, what would be the first thing you'd do if you found a snowman at a crime scene?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about The Snowman 2017? Put this WISE score on your site