Copenhagen Cowboy Review: Nicolas Winding Refn’s Visually Entrancing Series Lacks Depth

Nicolas Winding Refn, the creator of Pusher, Drive, and The Neon Demon, makes his Netflix debut with Copenhagen Cowboy. The brand-new series premiered on January 5, 2023. It consists of 6 episodes with a total runtime of approximately 45-50 minutes. Apart from Refn, Sara Isabella Jønsson Vedde, Johanne Algren and Mona Masri are credited as writers of the show.

Magnus Nordenhof Jønck is the cinematographer, and the music is given by Peter Kyed, Cliff Martinez, Peter Peter, and Julian Winding. The neon-drenched noir series follows a young woman named Miu and her journey of self-discovery and revenge.

The official Netflix description of the series reads as follows:

After a lifetime of being sold as a human good luck charm, a woman with mysterious supernatural abilities seeks revenge against those who wronged her.

-Copenhagen Cowboy Review Contains No Spoilers-

If one is familiar with Refn’s work, one would know exactly what to expect from the series. Aesthetically pleasing visuals, well-crafted frames, and spectacular use of neon lights collaborated with synth music are the staple additions to his movies and shows. The story progresses at an extremely slow pace, allowing the audience to understand and feel the atmosphere created.

Each scene is deliberate and well thought-out. A trivial object, such as a couch in a room, is placed so meticulously that it leaves one wondering about the time and effort it took to put the entire show together. The series’ tone is set from the first episode itself, and the director manages to display it consistently throughout.

However, the most important and overlooked aspect of the series is the background score. The hypnotic music plays a vital role in pulling the audience in and keeping us engaged with the story. Refn also utilises certain camera techniques constantly throughout the season. Almost all the camera movements are slow when pushing in on a subject or pulling out. Moreover, the camera is panned repeatedly in a 360-degree turn, often circling numerous times or following the subject’s movements across the room.

That being said, the most disappointing element of the series is the plot. It felt pretentious most of the time, almost performative. I could not fathom entirely what was happening as very little dialogue was present throughout the episodes, or they were being delivered in puzzles that the audience had to decipher. It followed a supernatural route where certain characters had abilities, but it could not entirely connect with the viewers.

The characters also lacked depth as barely any emotion was being displayed. The enigmatic main character remained a mystery. The audience will be left wondering about her personality, purpose and ultimate goal in life. As for the side characters, very little information was presented about them.

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Copenhagen Cowboy Review: Final Thoughts

Nicolas Winding Refn successfully delivered yet another visually enthralling work of art that transports the audience into a dreamlike world of brutality and chaos. The series will transcend time and generations and serve as a guide to aspiring filmmakers who wish to create such beautiful and inventive pieces of art. That being said, the director lives up to his reputation of choosing style over substance. The story falls flat and does not intrigue one in the slightest.

Angela Bundalovic, as Miu, the lead actor in the series, delivered an adequate performance. She did as the script demanded and stayed in character throughout. Zlatko Burić, however, outshined everyone on screen and stole the show.

Copenhagen Cowboy is now streaming on Netflix.

Did you watch Copenhagen Cowboy yet? Let us know your thoughts about the series in the comments below!

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