Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Smoking, drinking in chilly slow-burn Polish crime story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Torment
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Based on the novel of the same name (Zmora in Polish) by Polish author Robert Małecki, THE TORMENT centers on Kama (Magdalena Cielecka), a respected television journalist whose popular news show has recently been canceled. She returns to her Polish hometown to find that the missing-person case of the childhood friend who disappeared during a hide-and-seek game has been reopened by Inspector Korcz (Piotr Zurawski), an intrepid police officer who makes both waves and enemies in the force with his investigation. Convinced that something about the original police work was badly flawed, Korcz retraces its steps, in the process revealing long-buried secrets and forcing Kama to use her journalistic skills to examine her own painful past.
Is It Any Good?
Chilly and gray, this Polish crime drama about a cold case missing person case reopened 30 years later is a slow burn with rewards for the patient. Eastern European crime thrillers like The Thaw, Angel of Death, and Wataha score with viewers who enjoy the conventions and typically bleak mood of the genre (old sins being visited on the present, grim family secrets, cobblestone streets, dismal weather), and The Torment has all these stylistic elements. What it's lacking is a certain violent streak common to crime narratives: There are no shootouts, no car chases, no colorful villains who appear out of nowhere to wreak mayhem.
Instead, The Torment tells its story slowly and deliberately, with flashbacks to the past that slowly reveal the information we need to know, along with somber conversations between characters puffing cigarettes in moodily lit rooms. Kama herself is a moody heroine, with secrets that are gradually revealed through the intrepid work of Inspector Korcz. Artfully, as the show progresses, old information gains new meaning, and answers arrive, some of which crime drama fans could have guessed, others that surprise. The patience the show demands of viewers is ultimately rewarded, but some viewers will give up on the way, agonized by the deliberate pace of the storytelling and the dour mood.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why dramas about missing or murdered children like The Torment are a staple on television. Why is this such a popular theme? What makes this type of story resonate with some people?
This drama takes place in Poland. Does this add to the confusion and disorientation for American viewers? How do the show's creators show how the surroundings affect the characters in this case?
Are Kama and Korcz rich, poor, or middle class? How can you tell? What clues does the show give you to their finances? How does their financial status compare with other characters in this series?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 2, 2026
- Cast : Magdalena Cielecka , Piotr Zurawski , Olek Krupa
- Network : HBO Max
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 30, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate