A body washes up on the windswept beaches of Poland’s picturesque Tricity (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot), mirroring an unsolved murder from fifteen years earlier. Prosecutor Leopold Bilski teams up with grieving judge Helena Bogucka to expose a labyrinth of nightclub secrets, corruption, and long-buried pain. Adapted from Małgorzata Oliwia Sobczak’s bestseller, Colours of Evil: Red (Kolory zła: Czerwień) has stormed Netflix’s global charts, racking up more than 30 million viewing hours and sparking worldwide buzz and making in one of the Top 10 Most Popular Polish Films and Series on Netflix. [Trailer at the bottom]
Curious about viewer favourites? See the Top 10 Most Popular Polish Films and Series on Netflix.
What it’s about
Colours of Evil: Red (Kolory zła: Czerwień) opens with a grim discovery: the body of a young woman, Monika Bogucka, is found on the beach in Gdańsk. She’s the daughter of a respected judge, and the murder scene bears chilling similarities to an unsolved case from fifteen years earlier. Assigned to investigate is Prosecutor Leopold Bilski, whose instincts tell him this is no coincidence.
As Bilski digs deeper, he uncovers alarming connections between Monika’s death and the seedy underbelly of Tricity’s club scene. He teams up with Judge Helena Bogucka, Monika’s grieving mother, who is haunted by the memory of her daughter’s unresolved case and driven to expose the truth.
Together, they unravel a disturbing web of corruption, secrets, and cover-ups — navigating hostile institutions, shadowy figures, and painful personal memories. The film explores how trauma and justice intertwine, how institutions protect the powerful, and how confronting the past is often the only way forward.
Cast and Production
Directed by Adrian Panek (known for Werewolf) and co-written with Łukasz M. Maciejewski, Colours of Evil: Red is produced by Aurum Film, the team behind the Oscar-nominated Corpus Christi. The film showcases the strength of modern Polish cinema through its polished cinematography, brooding tone, and restrained but powerful performances. Adding to the immersive experience is a vivid, haunting score by Bartosz Chajdecki, whose music sharpens the film’s tension and deepens its emotional undercurrents.
Maja Ostaszewska shines as Helena Bogucka, a judge torn between grief and justice, while Jakub Gierszał delivers a nuanced portrayal of Prosecutor Leopold Bilski, caught between institutional pressure and moral conviction. Their chemistry adds emotional weight to the thriller’s suspenseful pace, anchoring the film in both heart and grit.
Explore our guide on the Best Polish Crime Thrillers on Netflix for darker gems.
What Critics Are Saying
Colours of Evil: Red has been widely praised for its atmospheric tension, smart pacing, and emotional depth. Reviewers have highlighted the film’s ability to combine the slow-burn intensity of Nordic noir with uniquely Polish themes of institutional mistrust and personal trauma. International viewers have noted the standout cinematography and grounded performances, while Polish critics have lauded its faithful yet cinematic adaptation of Małgorzata Oliwia Sobczak’s bestselling novel. Its success on Netflix, with over 30 million hours viewed globally, reflects both strong word-of-mouth and growing international interest in Polish crime storytelling.
Is Colours of Evil: Red Based on a True Story?
Though Colours of Evil: Red is not based on a true story, its strength lies in how authentically it captures the atmosphere of real-life investigations and social tensions. Inspired by Małgorzata Oliwia Sobczak’s bestselling novel, the plot weaves together elements of institutional cover-ups, generational trauma, and urban crime—issues that resonate deeply within contemporary Polish society. The film’s emotional realism and gritty setting have led many viewers to ask whether the story is real, a testament to its immersive storytelling.
Colours of Evil: Red – All the Info
- Original title: Kolory zła: Czerwień
- Genre: Thriller, crime, drama
- Country of production: Poland
- Original language: Polish
- Year of release: 2024
- Duration: Film – 113 minutes
- Director: Adrian Panek
- Main cast: Maja Ostaszewska, Jakub Gierszał, Zofia Jastrzębska, Andrzej Zieliński
- Production: Aurum Film, licensed to Netflix
When to Watch Kolory zła Czerwień?
Available on Netflix from 29 May 2024, you can start watching Kolory zła: Czerwień today. Don’t miss the engaging trailer below.
Colours of Evil: Red (Kolory zła: Czerwień) is currently available to stream on Netflix in both the UK and the USA.
Kolory zła: Czerwień – Trailer
This article was originally published in Polish on Netflixmania.pl.