Director: Peter Flinth

Starring: Malin Crepin

2.5 / 5

Another Swedish film adaptation of another Swedish crime novel series - but 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo', this ain't.

Based on the best-selling books by Liza Marklund, 'Last Will' is the story of crime reporter Annika Bengtzon. Sent to cover the prestigious Nobel banquet for her tabloid newspaper employer, Annika becomes the key witness in the audacious murder of a high-ranking Nobel committee member.

Although the local law enforcement bans Annika from reporting on the murder herself, her journalistic instincts get the better of her and she continues to investigate the crime and the shadowy motivations behind it. How far will someone go to win the Nobel Prize?

I haven't read any of the Annika Bengtzon books, but the series of novels has sold over 10 million copies around the world, so I imagine the stories are considered as gripping tales. It's a shame the same can't be said for 'Last Will'.

While the movie is not especially bad, it's not especially good either - especially when you make the inevitable comparisons with that other Swedish crime adaptation, 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'.

Where 'Tattoo' is a gritty, no-holds-barred thrill, 'Last Will' seems to limp along lethargically. And a parallel story arc of Annika's marriage and family struggles is glossed over so much that it almost seems irrelevant including it in the film.

One can only presume it's yet another case of the book far out-shining its film adaptation.