This notorious failure is a visually appealing but bewildering combination of confusion, suspense, and some genuinely strong performances. In Norway, Detective Harry Hole (played by Michael Fassbender) and his new partner Katrine (Rebeecca Ferguson) are investigating long-running disappearances, with connections to philanthropist Arve Stop (J.K. Simmons). A calling card—the snowman that gives the film its title—is left at each crime scene, along with anonymous letters Harry begins receiving. Harry and Katrine proceed through their investigation, utilizing a new piece of technology provided by the police department. Simultaneously, Harry gets involved in his former girlfriend Rakel's (Charlotte Gainsbourg) life, and they seem to be longing for one another again. It’s never encouraging when a film’s director confesses that he only had time to shoot 85% of a screenplay handed to him after being brought on board following the departure of the original director, Martin Scorsese. Several scenes from the trailer were omitted because there was no logical place to incorporate them into this baffling narrative. Claire Simpson and Thelma Schoonmaker, both Oscar winners, are listed as editors, but their skills weren't enough to fix what’s broken. The film is set in Norway, with segments taking place in Bergen, Germany, yet everyone speaks English. While the setting and character names are Scandinavian, the filmmakers oddly chose this cast instead of relocating the story to Canada or Alaska, or hiring Norwegian actors—you might find yourself chuckling at the name "Harry Hole." Despite its shortcomings, the acting is quite good. Fassbender portrays a character who frequently wakes up from drunken states, but his performance remains compelling. Ferguson is adequate, though Gainsbourg elevates her role as Harry’s former girlfriend and I wished there had been more of her. Karlsson's portrayal of a new boyfriend shows him to be excessively polite and naive, seemingly oblivious to the connection between Harry and Rakel. Aside from some questionable special effects, the actual locations are beautiful, frigid, and covered in snow. Based on a series of novels by Jo Nesbo (it’s curious that they started with the seventh book), this should have launched a film franchise, but its box office performance ended that possibility. From what I've read online, the screenplay deviates from the source material regarding key plot points and eliminates several major characters who would reappear in subsequent books. It’s disappointing that this didn’t pan out; I would have enjoyed seeing more of these characters involved in less complicated mysteries. "The Snowman" left both the audience and, apparently, the filmmakers feeling unenthusiastic.

Source on TMDB