Another unsavory journey into contemporary Denmark's seamier underbelly.

Mikkel Norgaard, the director, propels the story by smartly sticking to the formula he used in the previous film: hints of menace, gorgeously shadowed shots and long flashbacks.

Although each of the first three films tells a full, discrete story, they work best cumulatively, as the ongoing adventures of one cranky, conscientious cop.

Lie Laas' furrowed lead and Nrgaard's taut orchestration of flashback-pumped plotting help flesh out old clichs - at least until the climax takes a glum turn for the overwrought.