Danish filmmaker Frederik Louis Hviid is set to direct Torpedo, a hard-hitting new thriller that sees him join forces with acclaimed screenwriter and director Tobias Lindholm. Produced by Marcella Dichmann for SF Studios, the film delves into the dark realities of the Danish underworld, where children and teenagers are groomed and weaponised by those involved in organised crime as so-called “torpedoes”.

Written by Hviid and Lindholm, Torpedo follows a 16-year-old boy called Kian, who realises he has sold drugs to the wrong people. When a deal goes wrong, the blame falls squarely on him. The solution offered is deceptively simple: he must board a train from Aarhus to Copenhagen and carry out a small job that will make everything right again. Over the course of the next 24 hours, the true nature of that task becomes clear. Kian is expected to commit a brutal murder. If he refuses, not only his own life but also that of his family will be at risk.

Described as a raw and relentless thriller, Torpedo explores grooming, systemic violence and the mechanisms through which adult criminals turn children into instruments of violence in a world where the need for acceptance and belonging can be all-consuming.

Hviid, who broke through internationally with his feature debut, Shorta [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (2020), continues his uncompromising exploration of social conflict and moral pressure. Shorta premiered in Venice’s International Critics’ Week, travelled widely on the festival circuit and was sold to territories around the world, while also earning significant recognition at awards ceremonies in Denmark and abroad. He later directed the award-winning TV series Prisoner [+leggi anche:
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Commenting on the project, Hviid says: “Torpedoes are a relatively new phenomenon that is spreading fast – also here in Denmark. To me, it has been important to understand what happens when violence is perpetrated by young people who have not chosen to do so and who cannot yet comprehend the consequences of their actions. It is a matter we have rarely seen in Danish film, and hence the work on Torpedo required extensive research before we could achieve any measure of truth. The collaboration with Tobias, whom I believe is one of the most trend-setting voices in Danish film, has been both inspiring and essential to give the story the heart and unrelenting realism it demands.”

Lindholm is among the most internationally recognised Danish filmmakers, with credits including The Good Nurse (2022), Another Round [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Tobias Lindholm
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intervista: Thomas Vinterberg
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scheda film] (2012), A Hijacking [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (2012) and R [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (2010), as well as the TV series The Investigation (2020) and Mindhunter (2017). He adds: “With his focus on the scary reality in Denmark, Frederik Louis Hviid moved me greatly with his idea for Torpedo. It’s evidence of the dark side of the Danish dream – and a rare opportunity to focus on the kids who disappear in the promises and lies of the world of crime.”

Torpedo is inspired by real events and has been developed through extensive research and interviews with police officers, lawyers, researchers, journalists and young torpedoes living in sheltered institutions.

Producer Marcella Dichmann underlines the urgency behind the project: “Torpedo is a film that has evolved from a deep concern for our children and youngsters. It is a painful story, but a necessary one. As a producer – and as a mother – I feel a strong need to create a space for reflection and understanding. It is fiction, but fiction which is frighteningly close to the reality of our daily lives. The ambition is to make a touching and thrilling film that will stay with us long after the lights are turned on in the theatre.”

Torpedo is expected to be released in cinemas in 2027, with SF Studios also handling distribution. The cast is yet to be disclosed.