The Hunt for a Killer
June 29, 8.30pm on Rialto Channel
Dubbed the Swedish answers to Manhunter, The Hunt for a Killer is a six-part crime series set in the late 1980s that dramatises the real-life investigation into the disappearance and murder of 10-year-old Helén Nilsson in the town of Hörby. The sickening crime not only shocked the nation but remained unsolved for 16 years, creating a major rift between the community and the local police force.
The series follows police officers Per-Åke Åkesson (Anders Beckman, Midsommar) and Monica Olhed (Lotten Roos, Wallander) who led the investigation into Helén’s murder. In a slow burn of a plot that spans 15 years between 1989 and 2004, we follow Per-Åke and Monica as they investigate and solve a series of unusually brutal murders in the scenic southern Swedish region of Skåne, while the identity of Helén’s killer continues to elude them.
Featuring terrific period costumes and production design, and complemented by some brilliantly understated performances, this is not a high-octane Scandi-noir thriller, but it is a true crime story that gets under your skin.
For those wanting some lighter viewing, premiering on Rialto Channel on June 26 at 8.30pm is The Truth, a French-English film starring Catherine Deneuve as an actress who has a stormy reunion with her daughter (played by Juliette Binoche) after publishing her memoir. The Truth screens as part of Rialto Channel’s annual “unlocked” event, which runs over the weekend of June 26-27 and gives Sky subscribers a free taste of what the channel has on offer.
The Kominsky Method
Streaming on Netflix
From prolifically successful comedy creator Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory) this series stars Oscar-winner Michael Douglas as misanthropic ageing acting coach Sandy Kominsky. The third (and final) season sadly lacks the grumpy comedic brilliance of Alan Arkin as Norman Newlander, Sandy’s best friend and longtime agent, but the show is bolstered by star turns from Kathleen Turner as Sandy’s ex-wife, and the inimitable Paul Reiser as his soon-to-be son-in-law.
Panic
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Every summer in Carp, Texas, the year’s high school graduates compete in a series of increasingly death-defying challenges in the hope to win the cash prize and escape their small town existence for a better life. Panic is the latest in Amazon’s slate of teen drama series and although slightly schlocky at times, this show delivers enough goods for an easy weekend binge. A word of caution: if you are watching with teens, be prepared to have a chat beforehand about risk-taking and making sensible life choices!
