Evil

Stockholm in the 1950s frames a boy who can't seem to avoid trouble. Erik Ponti is expelled after another fistfight, and his mother shields him from his violent stepfather by sending him to Stjärnsberg, a boarding school that will take only those who can toe the line. Erik must cope with rigid discipline, a stern social code, and a climate where cruelty can pass for tradition. The year ahead becomes his last chance to prove he can graduate to Upper School, pitting him against rivals, teachers, and a ruthless system. He clings to his promise to stay out of serious trouble for his mother and himself, and he discovers both allies and adversaries along the way, and his choices matter.

Mikael Håfström directed Evil, released in 2003, with Jan Guillou providing the source material and Hans Gunnarsson adapting the screenplay. The Swedish drama adapts Guillou's gripping story for the screen, capturing the tense education drama with room for character conflict.

Worldwide, the film grossed 12,469,000 dollars on a 3 million dollar budget, reflecting solid market performance for a Swedish drama. The financials underscore its relative commercial success and helped raise international awareness for Swedish storytelling abroad in arts markets worldwide.

Evil's stark portrayal of a brutal 1950s boarding school has sparked discussion about authority, masculinity, and the limits of discipline in Swedish cinema. Its uncompromising scenes and moral questions echo in later dramas that examine youth, power, and reform within rigid institutions, prompting audiences to rethink school life and consequence.

Andreas Wilson delivers a focused performance as Erik Ponti, supported by Gustaf Skarsgård as Otto Silverhielm and Henrik Lundström as Pierre Tanguy. The film keeps focus on Erik's choices as it probes violence, loyalty, and the pressure to conform, earning a 7.3 out of 10 from 386 voters and critics.