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Elves is the latest Nordic Noir series to arrive on Netflix, and a surprisingly brief one, as it consists of just six episodes, each around 20-26 minutes in length.
This is one of this series that spends so long doing the ‘tell, but don’t show’ schtick, as it begins with a cow about to be sacrificed just offscreen, so we’re already getting off to a grim start.
Meanwhile, a family from out-of-town are coming to stay for Christmas. Young Josefine (Sonja Sofie Engberg Steen, above) wants a dog for Xmas, but is too young to look after one, but on their arrival and heading just off the beaten track, they come across locals who just reek of obvious dodgyness, and stop the car because they think they hit something. They’re not sure what – if anything – but it’s left a mark on the car comprised of a strange black goo.
However, the first episode is monumentally boring with nothing happening whatsoever… until the last moments when the girl finds an elf – called Kee-ko – who’s hatched, and is left all alone. So, she thinks it’s a good idea to take him back home, as if he’s a Mogwai from Gremlins.
Having watched the full series (since it doesn’t take too long) and without giving spoilers, Josefine’s brother, Kasper (Milo Campanale), is sniffing around local girl Liv (Søgaard Holm), and the island of oddballs is basically led by the weird, psychotic Karen (Ann Eleonora Jørgensen). Yep, a Karen. She’d certainly want to speak to your manager!
However, it starts off with little happening, and then continues in that vein, but does nothing we haven’t seen before; And 36 years on from Gremlins, those creatures still felt more lifelike.
Elves is not available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but is on Netflix from today. However, perhaps it’s best to just stick to Gremlins 1 & 2 on Blu-ray and DVD.
Overall Score: 3/10
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 20-26 mins per episode (6 episodes)
Release date: November 28th 2021
Studio: Netflix
Format: 2.00:1
Director: Roni Ezra
Producer: Elise H Lund
Creator/Writer: Stefan Jaworski
Music: Anthony Lledo, Mikkel Maltha
Cast:
Josefine: Sonja Sofie Engberg Steen
Kasper: Milo Campanale
Liv: Vivelill Søgaard Holm
Charlotte: Lila Nobel
Mads: Peder Thomas Pedersen
Karen: Ann Eleonora Jørgensen
Møller: Rasmus Hammerich
Anders: Lukas Løkken
Lisbeth: Anne Katrine Sund
John: Josiah Sarquah
Grown-up Elves: Nina Frifelt, Mille Marie Johnsen, Linette Stamp Christensen, Sabrina Mây Elmhoff, Silje Enevold Gjesme
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.