Anxious People (2021) User Reviews (53)

Lighthearted + intruiguing.

[TreeFiddy53 · 7/10 · 8 January 2022]

"Cozy Mystery" (a subgenre name that I didn't know existed) is a wholesome story of a bank robbery gone wrong after which, the robber is locked in an apartment along with its potential buyers in an open house.

6 eps, about 25-30 mins each - quick watch! Great storytelling/writing, great acting, well shot and put together.

This turns from comedy to mystery to feel good real quick. Different & refreshing in this genre.

Would recommend if you're looking for something fun, lighthearted but intriguing at the same time, check this out.

Surprisingly good

[mortenm-53456 · 8/10 · 4 January 2022]

I almost stopped watching after the first episode, but glad I didn't. I ended up bingeing the whole thing in one sitting. It's a touching and heartwarming crime mystery set in a small(?) town of Sweden. The episodes reveal the stories of all the hostages in a well paced and well played manner. However, it's not a comedy even thought Netflix claimes it is, which was also part of the reason I almost stopped watching, cause I had the wrong expectations. It is somewhat quirky, and it's well worth the watch.

The book by redrik Backman is way better

[annie_geo · 6/10 · 2 January 2022]

I loved the book as I was really looking forward to the seires. While it was a nice mini-show, the book is way superior. The book is well-written, witty, and funny. I like the characters better in the book as well. Very strange casting as well.

Long story short, read the book first.

Swedish drama worth a watch

[shane1181 · 7/10 · 3 January 2022]

Fairly predictable "mystery" drama that explores timeless themes in modern times, such as family, motherhood, guilt, justice and forgiveness. There's some comedy in the beginning, but I found that dropped off as they explained the story that unfolded behind the scenes in the hostage apartment of the first episode.

I watched the English-dubbed version of this Swedish 6-part miniseries, and I thought it was very good.

The book is always better

[frank78-19-464923 · 7/10 · 13 January 2022]

I just finished reading the book 3 days ago and I was anxious to see the series (pun intended). The trailer was a bit of a turn-off since it marketed the series as a crazy comedy which it really isn't. If something, it's a study of human souls. So minus 1 point already.

How did I rate it? There were some things in the book that didn' t make it to the series, minus 1 point. On the other hand, there were some things that weren't in the book but the writers probably thought it was a good idea to create them for no reason. Minus 1 point. Don't wanna sound superficial but the younger cop looking like a hamster really didn't help. Minus 1 point. I really enjoyed the older, experienced actors who portrayed Anna-Lena and Jim. Plus 1 point. And that is how I came to 7/10. Read the book!

"When you get a chance to save someone, you take it."

[wpbnb · 10/10 · 29 December 2021]

I'm a huge fan of Fredrik Backman and this Netflix series is an excellent adaption of his book "Anxious People". The Netflix series develops the story characters very slowly and methodically in six 30-minute episodes.

I think this is one of the few cases where the film version has captured the book almost perfectly. Backman is a master story teller and the film is pretty much how I imagined the characters when I read the book.

This is not an action packed crime drama so you may be disappointed if that is what you were expecting. Despite the crime backstory, it is actually a very quite story about a group of random people brought together in a very unusual situation that end up bonding together in the most unusual way possible.

The film and book have a surprisingly philosophical message that is very positive and encouraging. I recommend you pay close attention to the dialogue near the end between the elderly woman and the police officer when she says, "When you get a chance to save someone, you take it."

Read the book - it's so much better

[martinm7703 · 6/10 · 30 October 2022]

Yet another case of a screenplay not coming close to the quality of the book. Fredrick Backman's book is outstanding, and he must be sorely disappointed with this series. I understand that Tom Hanks is making a movie of "A Man Called Ove", and I sure hope he does a better treatment of that Backman masterpiece.

The acting in this is adequate, but I think that several of the actors were miscast. Much of Backman's delicious humor never made it to the screen, and one wonders why on earth they didn't simply do a more faithful rendering even if it meant shooting a few more episodes. Perhaps the budget for this was a victim of Netflix financial woes.

Character driven.

[gnatsong · 10/10 · 8 January 2022]

And it's well worth taking that drive with these fine actors, interesting characters. I enjoyed the plot. I enjoyed not knowing where this limited series was going. This is an uplifting series, a great diversion from the reality of this world.

The book is much better

[verushka-cz · 6/10 · 1 January 2022]

Bingeworthy series, although it has its flaws. You can enjoy all the unique characters but it seems it is hard to recreate the Backman's book which is profound and subtle, with perfect dialogues.

A confused adaptation of an excellent book

[tor-claesson · 4/10 · 7 January 2022]

I'd describe the book, Anxious People, by Backman as a confused but heartfelt story about a group absurd but likable people. This adaptation by Felix Herngren however is merely a confused story about absurd people. But there's nothing heartfelt or likable about it, making it a pretty dull tv-experience.

More than meets the eye

[peter_nilsson88 · 10/10 · 3 January 2022]

The series starts as the typical mystery comedy, but evolves to a story with a deeper meaning where you have to question what is right or wrong under specific circumstances and what i means to be humane.

The acting is great with a cast of Swedish stars where Alfred Svensson does a remarkable performance, planting him as a really good actor far from the role as "Billy" in "Leif & Billy".

A true gem of a mini-series!

Confused

[classicrun · 6/10 · 30 December 2021]

So much doesn't make sense. Why did the jumper try to get a loan if he had incurable cancer? Why was the note addressed to Gustav? Who is Gustav? Why the ridiculous rabbit outfit? Why call Estelle grandma?

The story was interesting but I think I need to read the book.

Horrible adaptation

[clay-walk · 2/10 · 9 February 2022]

The book was so wonderfully written. It's hard to comprehend why this adaption was allowed to deviate so far from the wonderful manner in which the story was told in the book. Episodes 3-6 of this series are not even part of the book's amazing plotline. I cannot imagine why such great content was replaced with such mediocre nothingness...

Descent serie

[Headturner1 · 7/10 · 8 January 2022]

I watched this with English dubs and The head PO has an Irish accent and the rest British. I felt like I was watching a good ole UK show. Whoever did the dubbing mist be commended. Decent little series to get thru the evening. I think well acted( but you never know when you watch it dubbed. Decent little serie.

very cute

[ludvig-32411 · 7/10 · 5 January 2022]

I mean it's nothing special or anything but it's really cute. Definitely a good watch when you're home sick and haven't got the energy to watch intense or crazy stuff.

Great little binge

[annemarie-petersen · 10/10 · 30 December 2021]

This is just a really lovely story a tale of the kinder side of humanity. The acting is easy to watch and it wasn't a "I already know the ending at the start type ending". It's just a really nice limited series which I binged in one afternoon.

Overall good

[Js-bingewatcher · 7/10 · 5 March 2022]

Started off well, mysterious, dramatic and kept me guessing but it turned out to be a bit too smooth and happy at the end. Maybe it lacked the twists and thrills which normally expected from a Scandinavian crime drama, overall decent.

A lovely 'feel-good' series.

[odarrien · 9/10 · 1 January 2022]

I really enjoyed this. The plot was good and my type of story that jumps back and forth between the perspectives of characters and shifting timelines.

This was a lovely watch over New Years 2021-22.

Endearing

[Valid_ID · 7/10 · 29 August 2022]

A movie review should not simply tell the outline of the story, that's what the synopsis is for.

Instead, I am going to describe how this film has touched me. It is as far as possible from Hollywood movies today, it is a movie with a soul.

Each character has a deeply rooted moral compass, and the story centers on people kindly trying to help each other.

The police is exactly what it's supposed to be, and the father-son team are seeking to understand first, rather than blindly apply the law.

The human laws are often flawed, and each case should be treated individually, according to ethics. The problem is that, in reality, most people lost their moral compass.

I appreciated this gentle reminder that humans are supposed to be altruistic, rather than selfish, greedy animals.

The book is better

[SneakyWasabi · 2/10 · 2 January 2022]

Do not waste your time with this one. Read the book instead. Way funnier and the story is well written. The actors are poor and the screenplay is shoddy. Looks hastily put together.

what really happened at the bank & the open house?

[ksf-2 · 8/10 · 30 December 2021]

Swedish series on netflix. When a bank robbery goes wrong, the thief takes people hostage at an open house nearby. And the local police force is father and son leif and jack. When they finally get in the apartment, something is not right.... what really happened here?? The father wants to just close up the case, since no money was taken at the bank, but the son is persistent. It's fun, watching everyone scramble to figure out what the heck happened. The captions are well done, in voice tone and in translation. Directed by felix herngren. Based on the book by fredrik backman.

Anxious people and not so much

[danybur · 6/10 · 18 January 2022]

Summary

Swedish miniseries of short chapters, a combination of police , choral dramedy and Christmas story that takes flight with some characters and situations and becomes somewhat sentimental with others and shows off a good narrative articulation of its stories.

Review

In a small Swedish town, a failed bank robber breaks into an apartment for sale and takes a group of potential buyers there hostage, an episode that will later lead to a police investigation.

The situation gives rise to the development of a choral plot, with twists and turns between the present and the past of the two policemen in charge of the investigation (a father and his son) and that of the hostages. There is a well-planned development where little by little we find out what happened during the hostage taking, in a plot where each one of them seems to hide something and the identity of the thief persists as the main unknown.

The police investigation then alternates with the stories of the hostages and their revelations (past and present), in a tone that ranges from melancholic comedy and sometimes a bit absurd to sentimental drama and where some characters and situations are more interesting than others. , all of them in charge of a solvent cast.

If you have read the book skip this.

[mrquib · 1/10 · 7 May 2022]

Just a terrible adaptation. None of the same feeling as the book. If you haven't read the book definitely worth giving it a read even if you have watched the show. The changes they made didn't make any sense as to why. I stopped watching after the first episode. Maybe it's because I finished the book yesterday so it's fresh. I don't know. I'm upset. I was looking forward to watching the show. But this made come here and complain. Well to each there own.

Enjoyable

[luka-novak78 · 7/10 · 6 April 2024]

A fun short series where one somewhat absurd situation follows another slightly less absurd situation. A bank robber tries to rob a bank that doesn't operate with cash. Then takes a group of people who visited open house hostage. Not the most competent police duo tries to deal with situation only to have robber/kidnapper vanish in thin air.

So what actually happened? The police duo don't suddenly get more competent trying to figure it out and juggling their personal affairs and a collection of quirky characters they muddle through investigation.

Overall this is not top TV. Every aspect leaves something to be desired but if you don't go in with too high expectations you'll enjoy it. Plus it's short, 6 25 minute eps so perfect for an evening binge.

A really good watch.

[Vindelander · 8/10 · 4 January 2022]

Fantastic short series with great storyline and cleverly weaving together the stories of the 10 characters. Full of surprises and leaves one with a warm feeling at the end.

Acting and dialogue of a high order and very amusing in places. It's similar in some ways to Noomi Rapace's excellent role in The Trip (another outstanding Swedish film) and Crash in the ways the characters are developed.

I'd certainly watch it again !