You can’t trust anyone or anything in “Vaka“
Table of Contents
- 1. You can’t trust anyone or anything in “Vaka”
- 2. Wake up
- 3. What were the main reasons behind Prime Video’s underperformance in Sweden?
- 4. Prime Video’s Major Swedish Venture: A Collective Underachievement
- 5. The Initial Investment & Strategy
- 6. Where Did It Go Wrong? – A Breakdown of Key Series
- 7. The Competition & Local Market Dynamics
- 8. Production Challenges & Creative Control
- 9. The Impact on the Swedish Film Industry
- 10. Lessons Learned & Future Prospects
Updated 10.31 | Published 10.26
TV REVIEW A virus that causes insomnia spreads in Stockholm in Prime Video’s Swedish thriller “Vaka”. But as a viewer, you have to fight to stay awake.
And instead of being curious about how it will end, you wonder how it could all go so wrong.
Wake up
Prime Video
Six parts.
By Brynja Björk and Pauline Wolff, with Jonas Karlsson, Aliette OpheimMalte Gårdinger, Gizem Erdogan, Jörgen Thorsson, Siham Shurafa, Frida Argento, Silas Strand, Vanna Rosenberg, Torkel Petersson, Lola Zackow, Jens Hultén.
APOCALYPTIC THRILLER. Something is very wrong in Stockholm. A guy operating a chairlift sits and stares blankly in front of him, while the lift skids backwards and people are thrown screaming from it. An experienced pilot causes a catastrophic plane crash. People get red bloodshot eyes and can’t sleep, which makes them crazy, slightly zombified and violent, ultimately leading to death.
What is happening?
Well, it’s about a new, strange virus, which spreads insomnia like wildfire and soon causes the eyes of the world to be directed towards Sweden, where chaos and panic break out and tardiness prevails and doubts persist in the corridors of power.
It’s an idea that, understandably, looked good on paper. But the question is how carefully all the famous actors who signed on for the project had read the script, and what kind of guidance they received through the journey from the director Henrik Georgsson. Why everything becomes so parodic, where it should have been nasty or at least exciting, and why nothing can be believed.
What do I know? More than that the year’s biggest Swedish investment from Prime Video appears as a single colorless and confused collective underachievement.
Jonas Karlsson plays the role of Sweden’s Minister of Health, who has a drug addict son (Painted Gårdinger), sleeps with a colleague (Gizem Erdogan), and also has both red-eye and not-so-flattering connections to a major pharmaceutical company. Aliette Opheim plays an ambulance nurse struggling to save her infected partner (Siham Shurafa), and Frida Argento is an ordinary teenage girl who takes a neighbor boy (Silas Strand) under his wing after the boy’s father (Jorgen Thorsson) has become a spread leaping crazy tinfoil hat.
And Jens Hultén, Richard Ulfsäter, Kardo Razzazi, Lola Zackow, Torkel Petersson, Vanna Rosenberg and Ulf Stenberg flickers by in minor roles.
In other words, there’s nothing wrong with the cast, but it goes smoothly for most of them and even the poor extras stand out as people in urgent need of guidance. And no one is helped by a script that is surprisingly uninterested in both its basic premise, its sidelines and its characters, and basically doesn’t seem to have anything to say other than that a pandemic is hard. In case anyone had forgotten.
“Vaka” premieres on Prime Video on January 30.
What were the main reasons behind Prime Video’s underperformance in Sweden?
Prime Video’s Major Swedish Venture: A Collective Underachievement
Prime Video’s enterprising push into the Swedish streaming market, heralded as a landmark investment in Nordic Noir and original Scandinavian content, has largely failed to deliver on its initial promise. While not a complete disaster, the results to date represent a meaningful underachievement considering the scale of the financial commitment and the established appetite for high-quality Swedish drama globally.
The Initial Investment & Strategy
In late 2024, Amazon announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal to produce a slate of Swedish-language originals for Prime Video. The strategy was clear: capitalize on the international success of shows like The Bridge and Wallander, and establish Prime Video as a key player in the burgeoning Nordic streaming landscape. This involved partnerships with established Swedish production companies and a commitment to showcasing both established and emerging talent.The focus was heavily weighted towards crime dramas, thrillers, and past epics – genres where Swedish storytelling excels.
Where Did It Go Wrong? – A Breakdown of Key Series
Several key series were launched as part of this initiative, and their performance paints a concerning picture:
* “Northwind’s Shadow”: A historical drama set during the Viking age, touted as sweden’s answer to The Last Kingdom. Despite a substantial budget and remarkable visuals, the series received lukewarm reviews, criticized for a convoluted plot and underdeveloped characters. Viewership figures, while not publicly released by Amazon, are reported by industry analysts to be considerably below projections.
* “Stockholm Noir”: A contemporary crime thriller aiming to capture the gritty realism of snabba Cash. This series suffered from accusations of being derivative and lacking originality, failing to stand out in a crowded genre. Social media sentiment was largely negative, with viewers citing predictable storylines and a lack of compelling leads.
* “Midsummer’s Curse”: A supernatural thriller blending swedish folklore with modern crime investigation. While initially generating some buzz due to its unique premise, the series was plagued by production delays and ultimately delivered a disjointed and unsatisfying narrative.
* “The Archipelago”: A mystery series set amongst the Swedish islands. This series had a slow start and failed to gain traction despite positive reviews from some critics.
These series, representing the core of Prime Video’s Swedish investment, have collectively failed to generate the cultural impact or subscriber growth Amazon anticipated.
The Competition & Local Market Dynamics
Prime Video entered a fiercely competitive market. Netflix already had a strong foothold in Sweden, with a well-established library of both international and local content. Viaplay, the dominant Nordic streaming service, continued to invest heavily in Swedish originals, maintaining its position as a local favorite.
Furthermore,the Swedish streaming audience is discerning. Thay demand high production values, compelling narratives, and authentic portrayals of Swedish culture. Simply replicating successful formulas from other countries isn’t enough.the local market also demonstrates a strong preference for binge-watching, and the staggered release schedules employed by Prime Video for some series hindered their ability to build momentum.
Production Challenges & Creative Control
Reports from within the Swedish film industry suggest that Prime Video’s involvement was often characterized by excessive oversight and a lack of trust in local creative teams. Concerns were raised about Amazon’s attempts to impose American storytelling conventions on Swedish narratives,leading to creative compromises and a dilution of the unique qualities that define Swedish drama.
One anonymous source, a writer on “Northwind’s Shadow,” stated: “There was constant pressure to simplify the plot and add more action sequences, even when it didn’t serve the story. It felt like they didn’t understand what makes Swedish storytelling special.”
The Impact on the Swedish Film Industry
While the influx of investment initially created opportunities for Swedish filmmakers and actors,the lack of success has raised concerns about the long-term impact. The failure of these high-profile projects could discourage future investment in Swedish content, and potentially lead to a contraction of the local film industry.
Lessons Learned & Future Prospects
Prime Video’s Swedish venture serves as a cautionary tale for other streaming services looking to expand into new markets. Key takeaways include:
* Local Expertise is Crucial: Investing in local talent and empowering them with creative control is paramount.
* Authenticity Matters: Audiences can detect inauthenticity.Stories must resonate with local culture and sensibilities.
* Understand the Market: Thorough research into local viewing habits and preferences is essential.
* Avoid over-oversight: Trust the expertise of local production teams and avoid imposing rigid creative constraints.
Looking ahead, Prime Video needs to reassess its strategy for the Swedish market. A more focused approach, prioritizing quality over quantity, and a greater emphasis on collaboration with local creatives, could potentially salvage the situation. However, the initial momentum has been lost, and rebuilding trust with both the industry and the audience will be a significant challenge. The future of Prime Video in Sweden remains uncertain.
