The Valhalla Murders

The Valhalla Murders (Brot, literally "violation") is an eight-episode police procedural television series produced in Iceland, originally airing there in 2019, then released worldwide in 2020 on Netflix and airing for free on BBC Four in the UK.

This is the second Icelandic series to be featured on Netflix, Trapped (Ófærð) being the first. The plot is loosely based on a real-life incident. As described in an article on the website MEAWW, "In the late 1940s, an almost similar event took place in remote Iceland. A state-run institution ... housed troubled, young boys, aged between seven and 14, where they were beaten and abused by the staff. Although in reality there was no murder, per se, as shown in the series, it caused quite a noise and the boys were eventually compensated in monetary terms."

Cast

 * Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir as Kata
 * Björn Thors as Arnar
 * Sigurður Skúlason as Magnus
 * Bergur Ebbi Benediktsson as Erlingur
 * Tinna Hrafnsdóttir as Helga
 * Edda Björgvinsdóttir as Svava
 * Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir as Hugrún
 * Anna Gunndís Guðmundsdóttir as Selma
 * Aldís Amah Hamilton as Dísa

Reception
The series received mixed reviews. Writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, Brad Newsome says: "Gutsy performances and judicious rationing of the scenery make for terrific viewing." However, Euan Ferguson of The Guardian writes: "Even halfway through it hasn’t quite got going: despite the dramatic backdrops, and a few stalwart performances, the word is glacial." Writing in The List, Brian Donaldson concludes his review: "The Valhalla Murders is certainly distracting enough, but while it aims to send chills straight down your bones, this Icelandic drama is ultimately a lukewarm bowl of kjotsupa."