THE MAN ON THE BALCONY (MANNEN PA BALKONGEN) European Cinema

Swedish detective Martin Beck finds himself embroiled in intrigue once again in The Man on the Balcony, the fourth in a series of dark crime mysteries from Sweden’s popular writing team, Maj Sjowall and PerWahloo. Stockholm turns into a city of fear when several young girls are found brutally murdered and raped. It’s up to Martin Beck to catch the killer. Using a “psychological portrait,” he tries to corner the man, but the killer outwits him and murders again Daniel Alfredson, who directed the first of the Martin Beck series, Roseanna, proves to be a skillful storyteller-quick pacing, ever-intensifying suspense, and tasteful handling of the seedy subject matter make for a gripping and emotionally involving thriller.