I can see why this book series sold so well: it’s very pulpy and fools you into thinking it’s more adult than it really is by presenting disturbing content in a way that feels cheap and trashy. Take the elaborate set-up we get for Lisbeth’s character before she enters the main story. Emotionally it hits all the right buttons, but it’s so fucking ridiculous and over the top that you can’t take it as serious as the movie wants us to. The investigation side of the story is alright, but due to the density of the book it’s way too reliant on convenience, exposition and, again, schlocky sensationalism. We can’t just wrap up the whodunit with a classic denouement, no, we need an extended torture scene followed by a chase scene! It’s almost needless to say, but Fincher’s not exactly working with the best material here. Yet, I still like the movie overall. His filmmaking is as perfect as it can be (atmospheric cinematography and score, great sense of pace) and the characters really pop as a result of great dialogue and acting. Rooney Mara is truly excellent here, her acting is so good that I didn’t even need that aforementioned set-up to be sold on her character, everything is already implied with the acting. As a character piece of two damaged individuals it’s a lot more interesting, and Fincher knows that too, because the movie doesn’t wrap up after the whodunit is solved. All in all, it’s a good movie with a mediocre script that’s below Fincher’s talents.

7/10