Katla (2021) User Reviews

A delightfully strange Icelandic Drama

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 4 October 2021]

This Icelandic drama is set in and around Vik, a small town in the shadow of Katla, a volcano that has been erupting for about a year, threatening the town. Most of the inhabitants have evacuated but a few remain, this includes those scientists investigating the volcano. One day something strange happens; a woman is found. She is naked but black from head to toe with ash. After the ash is cleaned off she gives her name and it matches that of a Swedish woman who was in Vik twenty years previously. It can't be her though as she is alive and well in Sweden... she does look like a younger version of that woman and appears to have her memories. She isn't the last person to be found in such a state; each of them appear to be a copy of somebody; some alive others dead. The people of Vik will have to come to terms with the arrivals and establish whether they are a danger or not.

I really enjoyed this series. It had a great setting; the black, ash covered landscape made an interesting change to the usual white snow or green landscapes of Icelandic dramas. We are quickly introduced to key characters before the first ash-coated person turns up. There is a great sense of mystery about just who and what they really are with suggestions of sci-fi and folkloric origins. The make-up for these people is very impressive. At only eight episodes in length the series neither drags nor feels rushed. The cast does a fine job bringing the various characters to life. When the series reaches its conclusion there are still questions to be answered; perhaps we will get another season but to be honest I enjoyed the ambiguous end and don't think more is needed, of course I'd watch if there is more. There is some violence, one case in particular is quite shocking. Overall an impressive drama that I'd certainly recommend.

These comments are based on watching the series in Icelandic with English subtitles; a dubbed version is also available.

It's all metaphoric

[heldriver · 8/10 · 21 June 2021]

This series really didn't have me convinced until I had completed the last episode.

First off I must mention that as a native Icelandic speaker I found the conversations quite stiff at times, both the acting and the actual dialog.

There were also details like two scientist in a cabin monitoring an ongoing eruption that would be the biggest one in Iceland in centuries, and the third one (Darri) having to go there to read out some seismic graphs. Uhm, the director and writer should know that this data can all be read remotely from the Met office HQ in Reykjavík. So some of the "setups" were a bit clumsy, but they put the players and pawns in the positions they needed to be in for the story to roll.

I also have to agree with some users saying that a lot of the times the character's actions, conversations and questions (or lack there of) didn't make sense to me. That is, until afterwards when I realized these things didn't matter. Sometimes they weren't logical, because they weren't really supposed to be so.

Warning, spoilers;

There are hints throughout that suggest the whole thing should be considered like more of a dream. A couple of characters say that they feel they're in a dream they can't wake up from. In dreams we experience happiness, loss and grief a bit differently than in waking life, and we can also spend time with loved ones that are departed from this world. The obvious metaphor for the dead boy and the dead sister are there, but what about the "clones" of people that were still alive? Gunnhild (the Swedish lady) and Gríma?

Let me run through what I think each "clone" stands for and why they were there; Gunnhild came back to help Þór to some extent deal with losing the true love of his life, which was young Gunnhild. The suicide of his wife probably affected him, but he obviously wasn't in love with her. But I think this was only a minor part in Gunnhild's purpose, her greater purpose was to lead Þór and his son Björn together, and for older Gunnhild to come to terms with and understand that her son's (Björn´s) handicap wasn't her fault.

The Magnea clone was her sick self's liberator. Her jail was no less real than the jail in the basement. Did she really deny to be relocated to Reykjavík, or was her husband lying about that?

Gríma said her sister Ása came back to help her overcome the grief of Ása's death and in the same way Mikael (the little boy) came back to help his parents come to terms with his death, that nothing could bring him back. If ever I've seen a heartbraking moment in tv/film, it's when he told his mother he stepped in front of the car on purpose, that he, a 8 year old boy wanted to die. It was also brutal as hell when the parents killed the "clone".

But what about Gríma? I, like some other reviewers, was frustrated at why Gríma didn't introduce her husband to the clone Gríma. But I first understood that it was all metaphoric when he walked in on them and he only saw one Gríma. That was farther cemented in the Gríma Russian roulette scene. Gríma's husband had told Gríma that he's just going to milk the cows and then he'll be back inside to help her paint the bedroom. Milking the cows doesn't take so much time that the other Gríma would have had time to clean up the brains and blood and dump the body. What this scene was about was Gríma deciding which one of her personalities should live on, because there obviously wasn't room for both. The "colnes" weren't exact replicas of the people they represented, they were only based on the memories of other people. Mikael was the memory of his father, Gunnhild was the memory of Þór (she literally said she had been with Þór), Magnea was the memory of her husband, Ása was the meomoy of Gríma but also Gríma was the memory of her self, of how she used to be before losing Ása, and with her the joy of life, the love for her husband and the will to live.

When Ása and young Gunnhild dissapear again nobody really seems to bothered about it. Perhaps because they were never really there.

I just wish they wouldn't have explained it by an alien meteor, but I guess they needed some premise for the supernatural beings.

Cinematography is pretty incredible

[robfollower · 8/10 · 18 June 2021]

Katla is a chilling new eight-part Netflix series that has recently dropped on the streaming platform.

In Iceland, after the subglacial volcano Katla has been erupting constantly for a whole year, Gríma is still looking for her missing sister who disappeared the day the eruption started. As her hope of ever finding her body is fading, the residents of the surrounding area start to have visits from unexpected guests. There might be something hidden under the glacier no one could ever have foreseen. One year after the violent eruption of the subglacial volcano Katla, the peace and tranquility in the small town of Vik is dramatically disturbed.

The intensity in this series is high as it slowly builds a haunting mystery against this beautiful landscape. One of the better Netflix shows quite disturbing in the end . The film score is first class with some excellent haunting cello orchestration.

I finished this series up and the Dolby Vision cinematography is pretty incredible highlighting the different shades of gray in the in the Smoke of volcanic ash from the seismic disturbance . The visuals of the landscape is worth the price of admission. Katla is some really gorgeous TV Cinema.

Really engaging

[samanthaeowens-822-762528 · 7/10 · 18 June 2021]

Although the plot is quite slow and drawn out far longer than required, I really enjoyed this show. I wish they'd done more with the root cause of everything (trying not to give spoilers) but I suppose not doing so gives them a ton of room to further develop and grow this idea in season 2 and beyond.

makes the otherworldly feels possible

[fabiano-joner · 9/10 · 18 June 2021]

The portrait of daily life in a small Icelandic community affected by a volcanic eruption looks mesmerizing to the foreign (non-Icelandic) viewer. It's like life on another planet.

The scenery, the harsh environment, the feeling of imminent danger, they all contribute to an immersive experience into a totally different reality.

The result is a balanced mix of real life events that look otherworldly with otherworldly events that look real and almost possible in that quasi alternate reality.

Served with solid writing, performances and astonishing landscapes well captured in a beautiful cinematography.

Captivating

[Calicodreamin · 7/10 · 18 June 2021]

The storyline moved at a snails pace but was utterly captivating. The premise was unique and the conclusion was poetic. The cinematography and special effects are magnificent throughout the series. Overall, a well made and well acted sci-fi/drama.

As slow as it should be

[Fjalla · 9/10 · 21 June 2021]

I'm amused by the amount of people saying this show is "too slow" and "could be wrapped up in 3 episodes". Have you ever heard about the genre "Nordic noir"? It IS supposed to be slow, depressing and leaving unanswered questions.

Otherwise it's like watching a Marvel movie and asking why there are so many mutants and superheroes with ridiculous abilities. That's the point of the genre. Superhero movies have their rules, Hallmark production its own, and Nordic noir its own.

Now, for those who know what they are going to watch, this show hits all the right spots, and yet remains refreshingly engaging. Someone in the earlier comments compared it to Australian Glitch - the similarity is indeed there, but Glitch, in my opinion, was an entangled mess of loose ends, and I was never able to finish it, but Katla just went in one go.

There are indeed a few awkward plothole moments when just a couple of questions could, ugh, "speed up the pace", but it's not really about speedying anything up. Everyone is soaked up in their own past, and the surrounding reality is often hard to distinguish from sticky, dim anguish of memories. In this setting, with raging ash storms and blended borders between black sand beaches, northern sea and heavy sky, would you really be surprised to see someone looking a tad bit older than expected?

I really hope there will be no season 2, at least with the current characters. Their stories are wrapped up - time for the new ones.

Is everyone stupid?

[laterthenyouexpect · 6/10 · 19 June 2021]

I can't believe that all of these people don't notice dead people are walking the earth. It's like that guy who presses his hands to his ears and yells nah nah nah to not acknowledge anything. Look it's interesting with some storyline behind it but this is just idiotic! DNA anyone? Is there any sort of connection to the outside world? Everyone wondered about the sister while not even thinking that it might be connected to the other lady. And nobody thinks it's odd that the new (younger) lady is the spitting image of the older lady and that she knows everything about the old mans life? WHY CANT THEY JUST BE HONEST OR MSKE SENSE OF THIS MESS?

Very unique concept, really enjoyed it!

[benjaminbbettenhausen · 9/10 · 18 June 2021]

I don't really get some of these lower ratings as I just finished the finale a few minutes ago and was throughly engaged throughout all 8 episodes. For what it was I will give it a very high rating because while the mystery was certainly very interesting, the show makes its real mark in its characters and their internal conflicts and relationships. I really can't wait for a 2nd season and hope it gets renewed!

The clones matter.

[softhebof · 7/10 · 18 June 2021]

I read in some reviews that this could have been a great drama without the clones. But as I wrote in the title, the clones are critical to this series. They are the embodiment of the grief that these people go through. They are past self's, secret desires (some dark ones and some normal ones), real people who are dead but remain as ghosts in the minds of the living, they are what could have been if things were different.

So, for me, the clones are part of the drama and this movie is purely that: drama.

Good watch overall, great direction, great acting and photography. I only wish I knew I was about to watch a social drama (which I don't mind) and not something similar to "dark" or something.

Of course people can't handle a slower pace anymore

[plzfog · 10/10 · 18 June 2021]

What an intriguing show! People, give it a chance and please watch it with the original sound and English subtitles. What a pleasant surprise this show is! Full of mystery!

People in this show are morons

[shanayneigh · 6/10 · 22 June 2021]

I'm tired of the Netflix slow burn fad. Just because something moves along slowly does not necessarily make it more profound. But Netflix entire investment strategy is that it's more cost effective to produce a "limited" series (how I hate that phrase...) than a movie, since you get 8-10 hours of content instead of just 2 without the cost scaling at the same rate (it doesn't cost 4 times more to produce an 8 hour series compared to a single film). The problem with that strategy is that just about every Netflix original show is painfully drawn out. The story in Katla could easily have been told in half the time without losing anything of substance concerning the characters or the story.

That said, I certainly didn't hate the show. I don't know Icelandic, but the acting felt pretty good. The Swedish actors however are as theatrical and unnatural as usual, which is only one reason why I rarely (if ever) watch any Swedish films or shows. The story and the mystery is interesting, but the writing itself is quite lackluster. Some parts make no sense at all.

One boy comes back from the dead. One woman after having been missing for a year. Two characters have doppelgangers, one of them 20 years younger than she currently is. One would expect that people would react with horror: scream, vomit, s**t their pants and faint (and not necessarily in that order). If my dead grandmother suddenly knocked on my door I would GTFO and don't look back.

But everyone takes it in stride, with at best a mild sense of surprise. The only one who even slightly reacts in a way one might expect is the disabled lady.

When the Swedish woman comes and meets her doppelganger sans 20 years, no one finds it the least bit peculiar that they look exactly the same? No one thought of asking her what year it was? "Hmm, we had a girl who worked here 20 years ago, and she is standing right next to you looking 20 years older. But you also claim to have the exact same name. Seems legit."

In episode 4 Grima says to her sister Asa who has been missing for a year: "You disappeared. How can you be so calm when everyone around you is freaking out?" At this point absolutely no one has freaked out about her returning apparently from the dead.

Even when one character finds an exact clone of herself in episode 6, she doesn't seem to be even slightly vexed.

There are some nice visuals, nut I assume that this show wasn't co-financed by the Icelandic board of tourism, because it looks like a dreary place I would never want to set foot in.

I know it might be silly to expect some basic logic in a fantasy piece, but I can only suspend my disbelief so far.

FFS someone ask the woman what year she thinks it is!!!!

[zenmateisshite · 5/10 · 18 June 2021]

I'm half way through and enjoying the mystery, the lovely Icelandic landscapes (even if it is after a volcanic eruption), and really don't mind the slow pace of the show as it actually fits the story.

But for gods sake can we stop with needlessly stupid delays. The only person who seems to be concerned about what's happening is Gríma, and perhaps Darri. The rest are in denial - especially that annoying Thor who is bringing dead crows back to life and yet so confused about a 20 year old affair.

Get on with it FFS.

Almost comically bleak - and should have a more noticeable warning from Netflix.

[nataliabstanko · 7/10 · 21 June 2021]

This show gave me:

• two drowning suicides,
• suicide via russian rulette,
• suicide via driving into a volcanic ash,
• a murderous child running around with a knife, slicing sheep's and people's throats,
• two adults drowning a child in a sea.

I couldn't help but think: 'what the ---- did I watch' at the end of the series. The amount of tragedies at the end spoiled quite a good, albeit slow season.

If there is a season 2, petition to the writers: please don't mistake tragedy and shock value with emotional depth and good writing. It REALLY isn't the same.

That being said, I quite enjoyed watching it, mostly because of stellar acting (especially the actress playing Grima - she was amazing and heartbreaking.) Bonus points for cinematography, which was absolutely breathtaking and made me want to visit Iceland. I would give the series 6.5 stars if there was a possibility of a half star rating, but since there isn't, I'm giving it 7 for the effort of all involved and with hope for a better season 2.

However, I definitely wouldn't recommend it to viewers who struggle with their mental health or family tragedies. It really can be triggering, and Netflix should provide a clear and noticeable warning on their main page, not only before the last episode of the season.

An Icelandic Solaris

[ChungMo · 9/10 · 22 June 2021]

20 plus years ago I had the honor of meeting show runner Balthasar Kormakur here in the states and then later in Iceland. The Icelandic government was trying to pitch him as the new Bergman. He certainly wasn't that but his work had it's own qualities that were great. So it was a surprise to see his name on this series after not hearing anything about him for so long.

The show is really engaging and certainly unusual due to the setting of a nearly abandoned town slowly getting covered in volcanic ash. Some parts of Iceland look like another planet in normal times but the addition of an active volcano really pushes the unreality to another level. I wonder how much of this is taking advantage of circumstance and how much has been created by a special effects team.

While the pacing might be slow to some people, it's not out of line with other Scandinavian series or movies. The characters are all interesting and lead me to wonder how I would fare if presented with this same situation.

I have called this an Icelandic Solaris. If you are not familiar with the Tarkovsky film or the book it came from, I will not get into spoilers trying to explain that. For those who are familiar with those works, you'll see what I'm talking about but that will not diminish your enjoyment of this series. One fair warning; the series ends not where you would expect it if this were made in the United States and might be upsetting to some.

Don't know how to keep story going? Make ppl dumb

[leonardobetencourt-69430 · 6/10 · 21 June 2021]

Really, the show is like nobody gives a fu** about what's happening.

Seens to me the kind of show that will drag story by dumb questions and actions, not for the mistery itself.

Creepy, very atmospheric, addicting

[wfarrelly · 9/10 · 20 June 2021]

If you liked "The Returned" ("Les Revenants"), "Glitch", "Us", or even "Pet Sematery", you'll have much to like in the Icelandic series "Katla". Eerie, dark, forbidding (often literally so, as the nearly deserted town of Vik, Iceland, has been showered with ash from the Katla volcano for a year), and gripping, the plot moves somewhat slowly but is always engaging.

The story and setting are so grounded in a harsh, otherworldly, and unforgiving environment that the impossible becomes strangely believable. That the characters are tough, realistic, unfanciful sorts adds to the credibility of the supernatural events that befall them.

As each episode ends with a cliffhanger, it's very hard to stop watching. Just one more episode!

It tries to sink unsharpened claws into you. And Fails

[milesaudible · 6/10 · 19 June 2021]

The show is slow but the payoff is rarely worth it. It will dig its claws (not even claws, maybe trimmed nails) into you after an endless wait and then not have a truly eventful reward at the end.

The characters lack any sense of decision making and common sense half the time. I was 4 episodes in and they still hadn't asked the lady what year she thought it was.

And that sums up the show, things that could make for decent drama and can be moved fairly quickly are drawn out and have you screaming at your television for 8 episodes.

The foundation has potential, but the execution falls flat on countless occasions.

A hidden gem, and English version dubbed by actual cast

[chriswo-241-729234 · 8/10 · 20 June 2021]

I like how it developed from mystery to psychological towards the end when they slowly discovered the "purpose" of these changlings and that they themselves were the ones had changed, ... and the emotional tussles and conflicts which make us think, what if this really happens to us. Rather sad ending but philosophical in my opinion.

Great concept, poor execution. Characters are stupid, visuals are great.

[shakti_prasad · 7/10 · 20 June 2021]

The SciFi concept used is unique. But the characters are stupid.

The clone of Gunhild recognised old Thor. Makes sense.

But none of them realised that Thor has become old since their last meeting which was 20 years ago. And the old Thor was not at all worried about a young Gunhild.

All of them are in denial that clones are there in the city.

Grima could have arranged a meeting between her husband and her clone when all of them were in the same house. But instead she went ahead to fetch Asa's DNA report.

WTF????

A message to the Creators, Waiting for next season. But please don't ruin it with illogical scenes.

Dark , heavy, and so bizarre.

[visionandyouth · 8/10 · 21 June 2021]

From a cinematic standpoint, this is beautiful! I get why people might not like it since it's very slow, but if you have an eye for good cinematography it's a must-watch. The series is well written and produced with excellent acting. Worth the watch ! Now Bring on Season 2 .

The best

[noneald · 7/10 · 18 June 2021]

Worth watching Imagine when your dear person comes alive and remembers everything and knows what happened and you know he is dead but your feelings are incredible I loved this series.

When obvious questions dont get asked.

[dmkroockie · 4/10 · 21 June 2021]

Trailer was interesting. But when your telling a mystery story you cant just ignore questions that come to viewers mind. A woman from the past of a small town appears covered in some kind of mud. Who is she? Ex-worker from it. Why she doesnt react to everyone being older? Dunno. Why people have a problem with remembering someone from 15 years ago? Dunno. Whats the mud? Dunno. Why the guy that recognized her, walked out with no one stoping him, to burry a crow in the ground even tho he was brought there by the cop? Turns out that real her is alive in sweden, why what happened? Things that should be answered on the spot are letf for later even tho all it takes is one question 5 minutes on screen. There is no reason to stretch it out like that...Who writes those series for netflix... what is going on with modern tv shows...

Much ado about nothing, basically

[slowpulse · 6/10 · 17 August 2021]

First of all, billing this show as science fiction is inaccurate: there's nothing scientific about the mystifying events. If anything, it's a fable that takes place in a modern setting.

With that said, the underlying theme is intriguing, but the eerie atmosphere and the plot twists are not enough to make this a must-see show. The main problem are the characters: none of them behaves in a credible way. I get that Icelanders can be a bit quirky, but here they are all simply unconvincing. None of them freaks out seeing their own doppelgangers, or people who haven't aged a day in 20 years. They take every inexplicable event in stride and barely show any emotion, episode after episode. And that behavior gets old really fast.

Thought provoking and original. Looking forward to season 2

[vicky-185 · 8/10 · 20 June 2021]

It's frustrating when you see reviews for something that was very well written, shot and acted, and people rate it low because they didn't understand it. If you didn't understand the plot, that doesn't always mean it's a bad show. People asking why Asa came back, why were there duplicates etc, have just missed the point. It was explained in the show too, so it's a shame so many people didn't get it and then rated it down.

If you didn't get it, have a read about it, you'll find an explanation, and rate on it's merits, not your inability to understand. If you read a textbook on a subject you don't understand, you wouldn't say that the textbook was bad!