Cry Wolf, or Vargasommar (Literally: Wolf summer), is a Swedish crime thriller television series, which was broadcast from 25 December 2024 via TV 4. It is based on Hans Rosenfeldt's novel, Vargasommar (2020), with the screenplay co-written by Rosenfeldt and Oskar Söderlund. The series was directed by Jesper Ganslandt. The main role is played by Eva Melander as Hannah Wester, a police detective, while Eliot Sumner plays Russian assassin Kat, and Henrik Dorsin plays Thomas Wester, Hannah's husband. It had premiered at Stockholm International Film Festival on 9 November 2024.
Contents
Premise
Finnish and Russian criminal gangs meet in a disused quarry to transfer money for drugs. Russian sniper, Jaroslav opens fire on both groups. Although injured, Kat survives by hiding under a car. Jaroslav's partner Vadim collects both sets of bags and they drive south in a blue Golf car. Once they cross into Sweden, both men shoot at each other. Jaroslav's killed, Vadim steps out of the Golf to flag down an approaching car. Kenneth's driving, he is distracted by Sandra; their car hits the Golf and Vadim. Vadim crawls off the road to die in the forest. Kenneth and Sandra take the bags of drugs and money. Kenneth drives the Golf into his barn. Sandra helps dispose of Jaroslav's corpse. Sandra advises not to spend any money, carry on their lives as usual. Elsa reports to Hannah and Gordon that two dead wolves had eaten human flesh. Hannah discovers Vadim's remains. Kat recovers in a hunting platform. She sneaks into a police station, to read Vadim's death report. Kat informs his boss that she's following bags to Haparanda.
Cast and characters
Main cast
The cast includes:
Eva Melander as Hannah Wester: Haparanda police detective, Thomas' wife, Elin's mother
Eliot Sumner as Kat: Russian gang's assassin, survived gangland shoot-out
Henrik Dorsin as Thomas Wester: Hannah's husband, Elin's father
Amed Bozan as Kenneth: wastrel, former prisoner for robbery, Sandra's partner
Nora Bredefeldt as Sandra: prison officer, astrologist, tarot reader, Kenneth's partner
Hannes Fohlin as Gordon: police chief, Hannah's boss and her clandestine lover
Albin Grenholm as "UV" or Dennis: car repair shop owner, former prisoner, Kenneth's friend, Stina's husband, Lovis' father
Olle Sarri as Greger: haulage company operator, major drug dealer
Eero Milonoff as Sami: Oulu police officer
Recurring cast
Lykke Fransson as Elin Wester: Hannah, Thomas' four-year old daughter; disappeared 19 years ago
Vidmantas Fijalkauskas as Jaroslav / Yaroslav: Russian gang's sniper, survived shoot-out
Mykolas Vildziunas as Vadim: Russian gang's member, survived shoot-out
Mikaela Pålsson as Elsa: County Council agent, assisted by field tester, Uno
Jesper Sjölander as Johnny: Greger's truck driver, henchman
Marcus Stenberg as Raimo: UV's mechanic
Otto Nyholm as Nicke: Greger's truck driver, Johnny's colleague
Lisa Larsson as Stina: UV's wife, Lovis' mother
Production
Cry Wolf is based on Hans Rosenfeldt's novel, Vargasommar (2020). Rosenfeldt and Oskar Söderlund co-wrote the screenplay for all six episodes, which were directed by Jesper Ganslandt. Rosenfeldt wrote initial drafts with Camilla Ahlgren (both had written The Bridge) before Söderlund was hired for the final screenplay.
It was produced by Nordic Drama Queens' Josefine Tengblad and Eiffel Mattsson. The project was commissioned by C More and TV 4. Nordic Drama Queens was co-founded by Tengblad with executive producers Sandra Harms and Line Winther Skyum Funch.
By March 2023, main cast members Eva Melander and Henrik Dorsin had been appointed. Filming occurred from July to October 2023, using locations in and around Haparanda, Sweden and Vilnius, Lithuania.
Episode guide
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Release
Cry Wolf premiered at the Stockholm International Film Festival on 9 November 2024. The series was broadcast on TV 4 from 25 December 2024.
Reception
The series received a positive review in The Australian.