Netflix’s The Secret Woman divides viewers as complaints focus on its unbelievable twists

Netflix’s new Nordic thriller The Secret Woman has quickly climbed the streamer’s movie charts, but its strong start has been accompanied by a wave of complaints from viewers who found the story increasingly difficult to believe.

Released globally on Netflix on August 28, 2026, the Danish thriller stars Natalie Madueño as Louise Andersen, a woman living a quiet life on the Norwegian island of Hidra with her partner, Joachim.

Her ordinary existence is suddenly thrown into chaos when a stranger tells her that she is actually Helene Søderberg, a Danish woman who disappeared three years earlier.

Netflix describes the film as a twist-filled thriller, and its central mystery certainly gives the story plenty to uncover. But for some viewers, the twists became the biggest problem.

A peaceful life turns into an identity mystery

Louise runs a small café with Joachim and appears to have built a settled life for herself. Then comes the startling claim that she is not Louise at all.

As she begins investigating, Louise discovers that she has a past she cannot remember. She is not only married, but also the mother of a young boy.

Determined to understand what happened, she leaves Joachim and the life she knows behind and travels back toward the world she apparently abandoned.

The deeper she goes into her identity as Helene, the more disturbing the mystery becomes. What happened on the night she disappeared from Denmark three years earlier is at the heart of the story, with Louise gradually uncovering a truth that changes everything she thought she knew about herself.

The film is directed by Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg and written by Anders August and Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg. It is based on Anna Ekberg’s novel The Secret Woman.

The cast also includes Claes Bang as Edmund, Pål Sverre Hagen as Joachim, Stina Ekblad, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal and Lars Simonsen.

Viewers are frustrated by the characters’ decisions

While some viewers have praised the performances and suspense, a sizeable group has taken issue with the way the characters behave as the mystery develops.

One of the most common complaints is that the characters repeatedly fail to take what viewers consider the obvious course of action: contacting the police.

One viewer described the film as frustrating because it begins strongly before turning into a series of increasingly implausible decisions.

Another argued that the characters’ choices, particularly those made by the lead, undermine the suspense rather than strengthen it. Instead of wondering what will happen next, the viewer found themselves questioning why the characters were making decisions that seemed so irrational.

That criticism has been echoed in other reviews, with some viewers taking an even harsher view of the film’s final stages.

One IMDb reviewer said the ending was so infuriating that they felt compelled to write a review, while another dismissed the movie as a “masterpiece of clichés.”

That viewer nevertheless admitted that The Secret Woman kept them entertained, but felt the plot became so unrealistic that it ultimately turned frustrating. They summed up their experience by calling it “cinematic fast food,” arguing that the thriller relies heavily on familiar twists and clichés.

Not everyone has been disappointed

The response has hardly been unanimous.

Some viewers have enjoyed the film precisely for the qualities that others have criticized. The Scandinavian setting and Nordic crime atmosphere have attracted praise, with one fan saying the movie belongs among the stronger examples of well-produced Scandinavian crime.

Another viewer described it as a well-written, suspenseful thriller that kept them guessing.

That split is reflected in the wider reception. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists only a small number of critics’ reviews, with the critical response considerably colder than some audience reactions. One audience reviewer described the Danish-Norwegian production as engaging, praised its cast and said the plot felt tight and believable. Another called it a decent foreign film with an intriguing story and plenty of twists, recommending it to viewers who enjoy mystery movies.

Critics have been more skeptical. The Guardian’s review praised Natalie Madueño as a sympathetic lead and Claes Bang’s performance, but argued that the film’s implausible plotting weakens its tension and credibility.

The movie currently has a 6.2/10 rating on IMDb, based on more than 1,100 ratings.

Despite the complaints, it is already a Netflix hit

For all the criticism, The Secret Woman is clearly attracting an audience.

As of September 1, the film sits at No. 2 on Netflix’s worldwide movie chart, behind The Whisper Man and ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look.

The film also appeared prominently in Netflix’s country-by-country charts, including a No. 1 movie position in Denmark and Norway on the September 1 rankings.

That popularity may come down to the same ingredient that has divided viewers: the mystery.

There is a steady stream of revelations as Louise tries to piece together a life she cannot remember, and the film leans heavily into the atmosphere associated with Scandinavian thrillers. Netflix itself categorizes it as psychological, ominous and Nordic noir, as well as a mystery and thriller based on a book.

At 1 hour and 44 minutes, the film offers a relatively compact mystery, even if some viewers have found its twists and character decisions harder to accept than others.

Ultimately, The Secret Woman appears to be one of those thrillers likely to produce very different reactions. Viewers looking for atmosphere, secrets and repeated twists may find plenty to enjoy, while those who expect every character decision to hold up under scrutiny may find themselves increasingly frustrated.

The Secret Woman is now streaming on Netflix. Watch The Secret Woman on Netflix