Expectation - The Marco Effect

Special Squad Q is back in action: when the passport of a family man who disappeared without a trace years ago is found with a 14-year-old boy entering Denmark illegally, Inspector Carl Mørck (Ulrich Thomsen) and his partner Assad (Zaki Youssef) must reopen old leads. A terrible suspicion quickly arises: A crime has been covered up here that goes far beyond the disappearance of one man. In fact, the investigators get on the trail of a conspiracy in which some of the most powerful men in Denmark seem to be involved - and they leave no stone unturned to ensure that their crimes remain secret...

"Expectation - The Marco Effect" is now the fifth film adaptation of the novel series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. After Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Fares Fares had embodied the investigator duo Mørck and Assad for four films, Ulrich Thomsen and Zaki Youssef now take over these roles. As well as the ever-reliable Ulrich Thomsen in particular plays, it is difficult to detach oneself from the team that has worked perfectly together in four films and to get used to the new faces. The somewhat strenuous camera work does not necessarily make this easier.

The case that Mørck and Assad have to solve this time has its moments, but is by no means as cleverly constructed as, say, "Erbarmen" or "Schändung". There is a little twist towards the end, but that is the only aspect that can really surprise. Director Martin Zandvliet ("Unter dem Sand") manages, after the visually somewhat exhausting beginning, especially in the second half very well to build up a rousing atmosphere, which at least in places consoles over the somewhat disappointing story.

Netheless remains as a conclusion that "Expectation - The Marco Effect" is so far the weakest film from the series around the Special Q. It must be said once again that this is only partly due to the replacement of the main actors. A somewhat more exciting script and a more rousing production would certainly have made the handover a bit more successful. In the end, however, the thirst for further film adaptations of the successful novel series is unfortunately somewhat limited. Nevertheless, those who like Nordic noir will be well entertained. And for it there is then also - with deductions in the B grade - a neat: Worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp