Among the European crime thrillers that have appeared in the Netflix catalog in recent years, "„Colors of Evil: Red“ („Colors of Evil: Red“") has definitely managed to attract the attention of fans of dark crime stories. The Polish production, directed by Adrian Panek, is based on the novel of the same name by Małgorzata Olivia Sobczak and debuted on the Netflix movie platform on May 29, 2024. The film quickly became one of the most watched European titles on the platform thanks to its combination of a serial killer, a police investigation, and a family drama.
The plot begins with a horrific discovery off the coast of Trigrad, Poland – the body of a young woman is found in circumstances that suggest a particularly brutal crime. The investigation is entrusted to the young prosecutor Leopold Bilski, who gradually comes to suspect that the case may be connected to a series of old, unsolved crimes. In his search for the truth, he unexpectedly finds an ally in the victim’s mother – a respected judge, who refuses to accept the official explanations and begins her own investigation. The story gradually reveals a web of secrets, corruption and long-hidden crimes, without relying on cheap sensationalism or shocking twists at any cost.
In the lead role Jakub Gershal builds a compelling portrayal of a prosecutor trying to stay true to his principles in an environment where the truth is often inconvenient. However, Maya Ostaszewska leaves a particularly strong impression as the mother of the murdered girl. Her performance carries much of the film's emotional weight and adds a human dimension to an otherwise dark crime story. The cast also includes Zofia Jastrzembska, Wojciech Zielinski, Andrzej Konopka and Andrzej Zielinski, who contribute to the realistic and tense atmosphere.
The strongest quality of "„Colors of Evil: Red“" is the atmosphere. Rather than aiming for Hollywood grandeur, the film uses the cold coastal landscapes, dark streets, and oppressive sense of hopelessness to build a world in which every character is hiding something. The cinematography and muted color palette create a sense of constant anxiety, and the narrative gradually draws the viewer deeper and deeper into the mystery.
However, the film is not without its flaws. Some critics note that some of the plot twists can be predicted relatively early, and the investigation sometimes follows familiar genre patterns. However, the acting performances and the tense atmosphere manage to compensate for these weaknesses. Some viewers define the film as one of the best Polish crime thrillers on Netflix, while others believe that the story is too predictable. It is this polarization that shows that the production does not leave the audience indifferent.
„Colors of Evil: Red“" does not offer a revolution in the genre, but it is a well-made crime thriller that combines classic investigation, psychological suspense and family drama. For viewers who like Scandinavian and Eastern European crime stories with a dark atmosphere and a serious tone, the film is more than a worthy offer. And its success showed that Polish cinema continues to be one of the most interesting sources of quality crime productions in Europe.
