The Unlikely Murderer review: Decoding the Skandia Man in the unsolved murder of Swedish PM Palme

3.5/5

Story: In February of 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme is shot dead while walking home after a movie outing, in the presence of his wife, by a single assailant. In 2020, the case was finally closed unsolved, with a probable suspect and evidence too weak for a trial. 

Review: Here’s a word of caution for fans of Nordic Noir – The Unlikely Murderer is not the stuff that riveting shows like The Killing or The Bridge are made off. This is a fictionalized re-telling of a true event, so, there are limitations to the drama in the narrative.

And yet, here is an account of the 1986 assassination of the Swedish Prime Minister on a public street as he was walking back home after a trip to the cinema, which was closed in 2020 as an unsolved case, although investigators had a suspect who died 20 years ago. What makes this case intriguing is that Palme was not a victim of a hit by a professional, but that of a ‘regular’ man who was just disillusioned with the politician’s handling of certain affairs, as well as matters in his own life. Even more spectacularly, after pumping bullets into the prime minister at almost point-blank range, this man, who then came to be known as the ‘Skandia Man’, had the police believe that he was not only a witness to the crime and had even attempted to save Palme’s life, but was also being mistaken for the actual culprit.

It’s a story that he, Stig Engstrom, steadfastly stuck to throughout his life, although investigators and journalists found holes in his narrative of the events that unfolded on the night of the murder. They knew he lied, but just could not prove it without a reason of doubt.

It’s an outcome you do not expect in a case as high-profile as this. But that is also because Stig was deliberately left out of the investigation at vital junctures as investigators tried to give the case an international conspiracy spin.

The Unlikely Murderer is based on a 2018 book by Thomas Pettersson and has Robert Gustaffson in the title role. In fact, back when Netflix commissioned the series, Gustaffson was quoted as saying that playing this role was therapeutic for him, as he was at the same cinema as Palme, the night of the murder. 

Verdict: The Unlikely Murderer is not an edge-of-the-seat thriller, yet it makes for an interesting watch because of Robert Gustaffsson’s portrayal of Stig. The makeup and prosthetics to make him look like the real deal may seem off at times, but you get used to it after a point. This is the kind of show that tells you how flawed the justice system can be.