When a young man dies by suicide in prison, it’s an awakening, as the title Sleeping Dog (Schlafende Hunde) suggests — one that points to a host of dark mysteries, disturbing crimes and potential cover-ups. In the new German thriller, a fallen cop suffering amnesia unexpectedly joins forces with a rookie prosecutor to investigate a supposedly solved and closed murder case. As they dig in, uncovering a conspiracy deeply rooted in the police and justice system, they find themselves facing danger too.
Max Riemelt, known for playing a notorious thief in Sense8 and acclaimed for his portrayal of a gay police officer in Free Fall, steps into the world of crime again, this time in the role of former cop Mike Atlas. Riemelt is joined by a cast of other internationally known German actors, including his Sense8 castmate Martin Wuttke, who’s known for his roles in Inglourious Basterds, Cloud Atlas and Homeland. Over six suspenseful and emotionally gripping episodes, the tense and twisting series Sleeping Dog channels the crime-ridden world of Dogs of Berlin, the legal drama of Damages and the psychological edge of The Fall.
Stream all six episodes now on Netflix.
When we meet former cop Mike Atlas, he’s a shadow of his former self — estranged from his wife and daughter after surviving a terrorist bombing in a holiday open market, living alone in a trailer and plagued by cryptic memories. Trauma is reignited when Mike is attacked and his trailer is set on fire by Abou Basher, who blames Mike for the conviction of his brother, Mussa, and for Mussa’s suicide in prison. Forced to live on the streets, Mike begins questioning his spotty recollection of events. This is a Pandora’s box that leads him back to the police department where Jule, a young prosecutor, is also looking for clues involving Mussa’s death and a closed murder case. Their overlapping investigations widen to include a circle of intrigue — and put Mike back into limited contact with his own family, as he confronts the prospect of working through troubling and complicated past experiences.
Yes. Mike’s story may sound familiar to international viewers: It’s based on the 2016 Israeli series The Exchange Principle (Ikaron HaHachlafa).
The six-episode series is set in Berlin.
Sleeping Dog is available to stream on Netflix now.
