After an attention-grabbing opening sequence, the film moves forward to a wintry, dystopian militaristic Swedish near-future fighting against an unnamed invading enemy, in which the ever-reliable Noomi Rapace is summoned to join a team with a mission to transport a couple of vital war-changing cannisters across the frozen icy archipelago behind enemy lines...on ice skates. This unusual high-concept premise gives rise to some interesting and striking visuals, the glacially sombre synth score packs a punch, and the war/battle scenes have a compelling sense of sharpness and urgency. The sub-plot involving Rapace's daughter feels undeveloped and mechanical, but by pitching its protagonists in a fight against both the elements and the ever-present threat of ememy forces, Black Crab is a tight and at times surprisingly grim and gripping Scandi-thriller that maximises the story concept and great location work very effectively overall.
