Swedish masterpiece comes to DVD

It’s hard to imagine that “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” became as popular as it is. Swedish writing doesn’t often make an impact in America, and yet the book was beloved by readers and critics alike. The film adaptation retains much of the novel’s quality while being beautifully shot.

“The Girl” is often dark and atmospheric, mostly because of the rugged Swedish landscapes and a lack of any bright colors. There’s also a bit of a Swedish gloom, something that has made these thrillers so successful in the past.

Noomi Rapace plays the title character, Lisbeth Salander. Rapace is electrifying on screen and makes up for some of the supporting characters, who are just a bit too dour.
The plot involves Salander and a disgraced journalist working to solve the murder of a wealthy girl who disappeared in the 1960s. They piece the crime together through archival photographs in a stunning scene worthy of “Blow-Up.”

The rare thriller that’s both intelligent and exciting, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” delivers plenty of suspense.