Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes is a thriller, drama, comedy series directed by Harald Zwart and Petter Holmsen, and starring Kathrine Thorborg Johansen, Elias Holmen Sørensen, André Sørum, Kim Fairchild and Sara Khorami, alongside other cast members. The series has 6 episodes, each around 45 minutes long.
The official Netflix description reads:
She’s back from the dead and has a newfound thirst for blood. Meanwhile, her family’s funeral parlor desperately needs more business. Hmm, what if…
– Post Mortem review does not contain spoilers –
We all know Norwegian shows, don’t we? Dark, brooding and nothing short of odd. However, I haven’t felt as intrigued as I felt while watching Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes. The hint of vampires and the intriguing synopsis immediately got my attention. I am all for vampire stories, they are the best in my opinion.
Anyway, before I go down the rabbit hole that is my love for vampires, let’s talk about Post Mortem. Our Norwegian story starts with a dead body in a field. This is Live and she’s dead in every which way possible. Except, she wakes up during post mortem. Everyone is shell-shocked, obviously.
If you’re wondering why it’s called No One Dies in Skarnes, then it’s a line that is uttered over and over again in the series. Which isn’t surprising, considering our protagonist comes back to life. This is a vampire dramedy series, which is an odd thing to say in itself. Vampires and dramedy? Pfft!
However, Post Mortem does the unthinkable. From the first moment Live’s “dead” body is found to when she realises her liking for blood or Live’s father’s odd behaviour, you’ll be hooked to the casual tone of the series. Yet, there’s something inherently creepy about this entire show.
That’s the most interesting aspect about Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes. Although it is a thrilling vampire story about a woman who wakes up from the dead to realise that she now thirsts for blood, it also has some beautifully emotional moments and humour that will keep you entertained. The story flows beautifully and is oftentimes quite opposite from what a typical vampire story might entail.
This is what I liked a lot about Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes. In most other vampire stories, you’d see the vampire revelling in their newfound powers. However, that’s not the case here. Live is quite confused, scared and unsure about her status as a not-human. She thirsts for blood and people die because of her. It’s not the best route your life can take one fine morning and that is evident with this character.
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The characters, on the other hand, in Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes, are well-made and have interesting backstories. Live, her family and everyone around her has interesting traits and motivations. Everyone has been given enough time and background to make this tale interesting and hella creepy and to get you invested in the characters and root for them.
Kathrine Thorborg Johansen and Elias Holmen Sørensen are the protagonists of this dreary tale and do a convincing job at bringing a vampire and her brother to life. They are extremely likeable and fun while Johansen is the right mixture of confused and creepy.
Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes looks absolutely beautiful. Yes, it’s a bit dreary and dark, but regardless, the series looks wonderful and follows Netflix’s superb production quality.
Summing up: Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes
Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes is interesting, creepy and equally emotional. There are moments of helplessness, humour and then some dread. The series packs the right punches and if you are someone who can get over the “vampire” tag and are in for something… quirky, then this is the one for you.
Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes is streaming on Netflix.
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