The Quiet Ones Review: Thrilling Heist, Flawed Story

Inspired by Denmark’s largest heist, The Quiet Ones offers tense robbery scenes but stumbles with uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters.

But as much as I wanted to love it, the movie doesn’t quite stick the landing. While it has flashes of brilliance, weak character development and an uneven screenplay hold it back from being the thrilling ride it could have been.

Right from the start, the film grabs your attention. The opening shot, with its grayish-blue color grading, drops you into a robbery in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2007. The scene is tense and gritty, setting a serious, high-stakes tone that I was immediately hooked by. But then the story jumps to 2008 in Ballerup, Denmark, and introduces Kasper (Gustav Giese). While the opening feels sharp and cinematic, the transition into Kasper’s world is slower and less exciting.

Kasper’s character is the heart of the movie. He’s a struggling boxer with a family to support, and his desperation is palpable. Gustav Giese gives a good performance, and I found myself rooting for Kasper even as he made some questionable choices. The problem is, the rest of the cast doesn’t get the same attention. Amanda Collin’s Maria, for example, feels like such a missed opportunity. The movie starts with her being interviewed for a security guard position, and I thought, “Okay, she’s going to play a big role in this.” But after that, she’s barely in the film. It’s frustrating because it feels like the story could’ve been so much richer if her character had been fleshed out more.

The same goes for the rest of the heist crew. They’re fine, but none of them stood out to me. I couldn’t tell you much about Kasper’s heist buddies like Slimani (Reda Kateb) or Joppe (Jens Hultén) because the movie doesn’t give them much to do beyond the basics. It’s a shame, because a great heist movie relies on its ensemble cast, and here, they’re just not memorable.

That said, the robbery scenes are where the film shines. The way the heist is planned and executed feels realistic, and those moments are genuinely tense. I was on the edge of my seat during those sequences, especially when things inevitably went wrong. The attention to detail in these scenes really impressed me, and I think they’ll be the highlight for anyone who watches the film.

But outside of those moments, the pacing starts to drag. There are long stretches where not much happens, and I found myself wishing the film would pick up the pace or dig deeper into the characters’ lives. The screenplay, written by Anders Frithiof August, leans heavily on Kasper’s story, but it doesn’t do enough to explore the relationships between the crew or the emotional stakes of the heist.

I really wanted to love The Quiet Ones, and in some ways, I did enjoy it. The opening scene pulled me in, and the robbery sequences were well-made and exciting. But as much as I admired those parts, the movie left me wanting more. The lack of depth in the characters, especially Maria, kept me from fully connecting with the story. If you’re a fan of heist movies, it’s worth watching for the action, but don’t expect it to stay with you for long after the credits roll. For me, it’s a solid effort, but not one I’ll be rushing to rewatch anytime soon.

The Quiet Ones (De Lydløse) will be released in US theatres and on digital platforms on February 21, 2025.

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