Netflix viewers have rushed to binge a ‘must-see’ crime drama that is now one of the most watched shows in the UK.
Released on the streaming service last week, Land of Sin is a Swedish series created, written, and directed by Peter Grönlund – who previously directed the films Drifters and Goliath, as well as the HBO series Beartown.
It stars Krista Kosonen and Mohammed Nour Oklah as Dani and Malik – detectives from Malmö, who are tasked with investigating the murder of a local teenager, Silas, from a rural community in the Bjäre Peninsula in southern Sweden.
According to its creator, the five-part series is set in a place where ‘shame, love and violence share the same pulse’.
‘We pushed beyond formula and style to portray the people at the edge, their fears, loyalties and survival instincts – a raw, cinematic journey into the psychology that drives them, and the secrets they carry like a second skin,’ he added.
Get personalised updates on all things Netflix
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
After the discovery of Silas’ body, the detectives then need to race against the clock.
As the synopsis explains: ‘The investigation leads Dani and Malik into a patriarchal rat-hole on the Scanian countryside and they soon find themselves at the centre of a dark family feud that has been going on for generations.
‘Dani, who has a personal connection to the victim Silas, is drawn deep into the investigation and the families it centers around.
‘The patriarch Elis (Peter Gantman) gives Dani a deadline to solve the case before taking matters into his own hands within the family.’
Since being released on Netflix, it’s currently the 10th most watched TV show in the UK.
Speaking to Netflix ahead of the series’ premiere, Grönlund said it was ‘not your average crime show’.
‘The world we enter here is darker, more fragile – a place where shame, love and violence share the same pulse. We pushed beyond formula and style to portray the people at the edge, their fears, loyalties and survival instincts – a raw, cinematic journey into the psychology that drives them, and the secrets they carry like a second skin,’ he said.
In its review of the show, Decider wrote: ‘Land Of Sin is a solid Scandi noir thriller, and any issues you may have with the plot or story telling won’t take away from following along with Dani and Malik as they try to figure out the case.’
‘If you’re a fan of Netflix productions such as Ozark, Bloodline, or The Waterfront, but feel ready for everything to get even darker and more depressing, then Land of Sin is for you,’ Heaven of Horror explained.
‘Land of Sin is a series sustained by its narrative coherence and a perspective that prioritizes social relationships over the mystery itself,’ EscribiendoCine added.
Meanwhile IMDB user metcalfere posted a glowing review.
‘OMG! Land of Sin on Netflix is one of the absolutely the BEST dark crime thriller I’ve ever seen!!!!,’ they began.
‘This Swedish series is soooo intense and moody – pure Nordic noir perfection! That brooding detective Dani (Krista Kosonen is AMAZING, totally unrecognisable and heartbreaking) teams up with her new partner to investigate a teenager’s death in this creepy rural countryside, and oh man, it uncovers the darkest family secrets and generational feuds you’ve ever seen. So many twists and turns that had me yelling at the screen every episode – I did NOT see half of them coming!
‘It’s super gritty and depressing in the best way, with all the shame, violence, and loyalty stuff hitting hard. Only 5 episodes but I binged it in one night and couldn’t sleep after.’
They went on to say the series was ‘like Ozark but even darker’. ‘If you love crime thrillers with real emotional punches, this is IT.’
Their sentiments were echoed by Guanche48J, who said the series was a ‘must-watch’ for Nordic noir fans.
‘The setting is dark, grim, and mysterious. What does seem to make the series more interesting is the story of the close community in Skane, where they encounter a dark family feud that has lived on for generations. With five episodes, it’s a fairly quick watch exciting and unpredictable till the end,’ they explained.
After you finish racing through Land of Sin, there are several other Nordic noir series’ to dive into on Netflix.
They include The Glass Dome, The Åre Murders, Deadwind, The Chestnut Man and The Breakthrough.
Land of Sin is streaming on Netflix.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Stranger Things fans think a missing episode 9 is coming – let’s delve into it
MORE: 11 of the biggest Netflix flops of 2025
MORE: Gavin and Stacey dominates most-watched TV in 2025 despite no new episode
#perfect #Swedish #drama #set #Nordicnoir #obsession
