THE STORY – In 2008, a group of men from Denmark and across Europe pull off the biggest heist of all time on Danish soil. Kasper, a boxer with few chances left in life, is offered the opportunity to plan the robbery by its foreign initiators.
THE CAST – Gustav Giese, Reda Kateb, Amanda Collin, Christopher Wagelin, Jens Hultén, Granit Rushiti & Amin Ahmed
THE TEAM – Frederik Louis Hviid (Director) & Anders Frithiof August (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 110 Minutes
In 2008, amidst the global financial crisis, Denmark was rocked by its largest-ever robbery. This true story serves as the backdrop for “The Quiet Ones,” a heist thriller that meticulously chronicles the elaborate preparations and high-stakes execution of a heist that yielded over $10 million (USD) and led to the incarceration of fourteen men. Frederik Louis Hviid’s film examines the world of ambitious criminals driven by insatiable greed, willing to overcome any obstacle and bear any personal cost in their quest for wealth and power.
The intensity in the film’s opening minutes is, unfortunately, not a promise of what is to come. No matter how perilous this operation may seem, it’s not a thriller resulting in many thrills. As masked criminals rob an armored car, killing both drivers in the process, we are presented with an image of men who are brutal, ruthless, and greedy. While the greed aspect of their character as a crew remains throughout, the brutality we are first introduced to fades, creating a heist film that feels duller than most. Adding to the dullness is the lead character we are made to follow.
Kasper (Gustav Giese) is a caring husband, father, and boxer training to be the best. While his career isn’t looking to improve soon, he’s unexplainably offered the opportunity to plan a heist alongside the leader (Reda Kateb) of the film’s group of criminals. Kasper risks losing his family, all for the chance to feel like somebody, to fill some hole that is wide from his inability to succeed at boxing. One deterrent getting in the heist’s way is a security guard (Amanda Collin) who’s always showing up when they least expect it. Kasper eventually realizes they may be in too deep as they all begin to snap under pressure and become too consumed in their greed.
The characters, specifically the crew and Kasper, are written to be so unlikable that it’s impossible to feel anything for them. If Kasper’s motivation was different, like to create a better life for his wife and child, it may have been much easier to feel for him as he gets embroiled in this mess. But his pursuit of money, being motivated by the fact that he’s terrible at boxing, leaves much to be desired. The characters here are very underwritten, especially the security guard, who’s probably only there to check off boxes. She has no use other than disrupting their plans, but her presence ramps up tension in the third act. For the most part, “The Quiet Ones” can be quite slow and uneventful, but once things start to go south and their freedom is on the line, we become more invested in what’s happening on screen. If anything is commendable, it’s how the film hooks us in when it feels too late.
What human beings will do for greatness and wealth could be explored in every single film, and every facet of humanity could be touched on to create multi-layered stories with no same conclusion. However, one thing that would link them all would be the pursuit. The pursuit of that money and the pursuit of being something greater than ourselves is enough to result in an adrenaline rush. While this pursuit is present in “The Quiet Ones,” we are never provided with the excitement it warrants.
