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Those Who Kill - Shadow of the Past

Name: Those Who Kill - Shadow of the Past
Director: Birger Larsen
Released: 2012
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

2012

Director

Birger Larsen

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This psychological crime thriller prioritizes procedural tension and the consequences of past clinical decisions. The narrative structure centers on the relationship between Detective Katrine Ries Jensen and psychiatrist Thomas Schaeffer. While the film provides meaningful ability to act to a female lead, it lacks multi-layered complexity. It functions primarily as a character-driven study within established social and institutional norms rather than offering systemic critiques. The representation remains largely within the bounds of traditional Scandinavian noir conventions, focusing on individual accountability and psychological pathology.

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Category Breakdown

Does Those Who Kill - Shadow of the Past have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story focuses on a professional partnership and psychological mystery. There is no explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ character arcs or non-cisgender identities present.

How does Those Who Kill - Shadow of the Past portray gender?

Fair

The film disrupts genre clichés by centering Detective Katrine Ries Jensen. She holds a position of high professional authority and control within the Copenhagen Police.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Those Who Kill - Shadow of the Past?

Limited

Set in Copenhagen, the story focuses on specific psychological and criminal elements. The cast appears to reflect a potentially homogeneous depiction typical of regional Scandinavian noir.

How does Those Who Kill - Shadow of the Past represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film operates within Western institutional structures like the police and psychiatric establishments. It maintains a traditional procedural focus rather than critiquing these institutions.

Does Those Who Kill - Shadow of the Past include disability representation?

Fair

The plot revolves around themes of mania and psychological instability. It remains unclear if neurodivergence is treated with ability to act or used as a thriller plot device.

Present on Screen

The film centers a female protagonist in a high-stakes investigative role with significant professional authority.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks visible LGBTQ+ representation and multi-layered complexity.
The setting and cast appear potentially homogeneous, lacking racial and ethnic diversity.
The film does not offer systemic critiques of the Western institutions it depicts.

Official Synopsis

Detective Katrine Ries Jensen and legal psychiatrist Thomas Schaeffer form a special unit at the Copenhagen Police investigating serial killings. A case from Schaeffer’s past crops up. As a young psychologist, he held back from sending a patient, who was manically drawing the details of a traffic accident, to a secure hospital. Now these bloody scenes resurface, enacted as real killings.

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