Some films leave a mark long after the credits roll, embedding themselves in your mind like a ghost that refuses to leave. The Girl With The Needle (2024) is one of those films—a haunting, slow-burn 1900s drama that grips you with every frame, raising the stakes and tightening the tension until it feels like you can barely breathe. Shot in stunning black and white, the film’s stark visuals mirror its dark subject matter, pulling you deeper into a chilling tale of human desperation and the dangerous lengths some will go to in order to craft the life they crave in a world that shows them no pity.
Stunning Black-and-White Cinematography
The film’s striking black-and-white cinematography is more than just an aesthetic choice—it’s a storytelling device in its own right. Every shot feels meticulously composed, blending light and shadow to create a visual language that speaks volumes. The cinematography evokes a timeless quality, calling to mind classic horror films or a photo you may find in a curiosity shop. Every close-up feels intimate and invasive, amplifying the claustrophobia and emotional weight of the story.
The decision to forgo color adds a layer of coldness, perfectly reflecting the film’s chilling tone. Even the brightest moments feel laced with an underlying sadness, a creeping sense that something is always just a little off or about to be turned on its head.
Real-Life Inspiration: Dagmar Overbye
At the heart of The Girl With The Needle lies a connection to unsettling real-life events. The film takes inspiration from the infamous story of Danish serial killer Dagmar Overbye, who preyed on desperate women in early 20th-century Copenhagen. Much like Overbye, the film’s portrayal of the figure hides behind a veneer of trustworthiness, exploiting the vulnerable in their most desperate moments. This connection to true events makes the film even more disturbing, grounding its horrific touch in the bitter reality of human cruelty.
A Reflection on Being a Woman in the 1900s
Beyond its story of crime and survival, The Girl With The Needle offers a powerful commentary on the harsh realities of being a woman in the early 1900s - and it's a more timely exploration than ever, of course. In a world built for men, being a solitary woman was almost an act of defiance — and is still reflected that way in modern society — especially for those without family or financial support. The film captures this societal suffocation, where options for women were limited, and survival often required blending into the shadows or making morally questionable choices to their own personal beliefs.
The protagonist’s actions stem not just from ambition but from a desperate need to take control of her life in a world that grants her none. With no safety net and few people to trust, every interaction is tinged with danger, and every decision feels like a gamble with her future. The Girl With The Needle doesn’t shy away from showing how women were often punished for stepping outside societal expectations, even when they were just trying to survive.
Raising the Tension with Every Scene
From its beginning, The Girl With The Needle builds tension like a ticking time bomb. Director Magnus von Horn crafts each moment with pinpoint precision, ensuring that every choice the protagonist makes feels more dangerous than the last - each situation more heartbreaking than the prior. The stakes rise with each interaction and each mistake, creating a suffocating atmosphere that refuses to let up until the very end. This isn’t a film that relies on jump scares or cheap thrills—it’s a slow, deliberate descent into despair, where every decision pushes the narrative toward an inevitable tragedy.
A Haunting Lens on Desperation
The Girl With The Needle is a story about desperation and survival. It’s not just about the crimes committed but the motivations behind them—the lengths one will go to for a better life, and how far someone can fall when all hope is lost. The protagonist is both victim and villain, navigating a morally gray world where every decision feels justified in the moment, no matter how horrific the outcome.
The film never lets you forget the human cost of those decisions, holding a mirror up to the darker sides of survival and the quest for control.
Where to Watch
The Girl With The Needle is currently available for streaming on MUBI, and is available to rent on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
The Girl With The Needle is a beautiful, yet haunting film that lingers long after it ends. Its masterful use of black-and-white cinematography, relentless tension, and unsettling connection to real-life events make it a must-watch for fans of slow-burn thrillers and true crime horror. Beneath its surface is a chilling reflection on how society historically has failed women, offering no lifelines for those who dared to forge their own paths. This is one film that will keep you thinking long after the final frame — and I suggest you don’t miss it.