Nejat İşler
Sadık
Overview
A lawyer turned private investigator takes on a missing person case, propelling him on an unexpected and life-altering quest.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min readThe Marlowe We Deserve
I’ve always had a soft spot for detectives who don’t quite fit the mold—men (and they are almost always men) who stumble through their cases with more luck than skill, more charm than cunning. 10 Days of a Good Man gives us one such figure in Nejat İşler’s lawyer-turned-private investigator, a man who fancies himself the next Philip Marlowe but spends most of the film tripping over his own feet. The question isn’t whether he’ll solve the case—it’s whether he’ll survive his own delusions long enough to try.
Uluç Bayraktar’s film wears its noir influences like a borrowed trench coat—loose, slightly ill-fitting, but endearing in its earnestness. The opening act leans hard into the trappings of the genre: voiceover that’s more self-aware than insightful, a missing person case that feels like it was plucked from a Raymond Chandler novel, and a protagonist who quotes Marlowe like a mantra.
But here’s the thing about homages—they only work if they either perfect the original or subvert it. 10 Days of a Good Man does neither, exactly. Instead, it meanders somewhere in between, a film that’s equal parts affectionate pastiche and genuine attempt at something new. The tonal balancing act is where things get interesting.
He’s got that lived-in quality of an actor who’s spent years playing men on the edge, and here, he channels it into a character who’s equal parts weary and wide-eyed. There’s a moment early on where he’s questioning a suspect in a dingy bar, his posture slumped but his eyes sharp, like a man who’s realized too late that he’s in over his head. It’s the kind of small, human detail that keeps the film from collapsing under the weight of its own genre trappings.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.0/10
"A solid crime thriller with strong performances but falls short due to a predictable plot and underdeveloped side characters."
The film’s lead actors, particularly Nejat İşler and Nur Fettahoğlu, receive praise for their compelling performances and on-screen chemistry, which anchor the story. latestnetflix.com's view is that however, the narrative’s reliance on familiar crime-drama tropes and a lack of depth in supporting roles leave viewers wanting more originality and substance.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Nejat İşler and Nur Fettahoğlu deliver gripping performances that keep the story engaging.
- Engaging chemistry The dynamic between the main characters adds depth and tension to the crime-drama setup.
- Stylish direction Uluç Bayraktar’s direction is noted for its visual appeal and atmospheric tone.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn crime-thriller tropes, making it feel unoriginal at times.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles lack depth, weakening the overall impact of the narrative.
- Pacing issues Some viewers find the film’s pacing uneven, with moments that drag or feel rushed.
Recommended for
Crime thriller enthusiasts Fans of Turkish drama Nejat İşler admirers Atmospheric mystery lovers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of 10 Days of a Good Man: Netflix’s Turkish Crime Thriller with a Star-Studded Cast
Uluç Bayraktar’s 10 Days of a Good Man (2023) arrived on Netflix as a gripping crime drama, but the film’s journey from script to screen has flown under the radar—until now. While details about the production remain scarce, latestnetflix.com argues, the evidence paints a picture of a project that leans on Bayraktar’s signature style and a cast with serious dramatic chops.
A Director’s Crime-Drama Pedigree
Bayraktar isn’t new to high-stakes storytelling. The Turkish director has built a reputation for crafting tense, morally complex narratives, particularly in television. His work on hits like Ezel, Karadayı, and İçerde established him as a master of crime and suspense 
. 10 Days of a Good Man appears to be his latest foray into the genre, this time on the big screen (or, more accurately, the streaming platform).
The film’s premise—centered on a man navigating a dangerous 10-day period—fits neatly into Bayraktar’s wheelhouse. While the evidence doesn’t reveal specifics about the script’s development, his past projects suggest a focus on flawed protagonists, high-stakes decisions, and a noir-like atmosphere . If 10 Days of a Good Man follows suit, it’s likely the result of Bayraktar’s meticulous approach to pacing and character-driven tension.
The Cast: A Mix of Veterans and Rising Stars
The film’s ensemble cast is a major draw, featuring some of Turkey’s most respected actors. Nejat İşler, known for his intense performances in Kurtlar Vadisi and Çukur, takes the lead as the titular "good man." His ability to portray morally ambiguous characters makes him a compelling choice for a role that likely blurs the line between hero and antihero.
Alongside him, Nur Fettahoğlu (Muhteşem Yüzyıl) and Şenay Gürler (Kara Para Aşk) bring star power and dramatic weight. The supporting cast—including Ilayda Alişan, İlayda Akdoğan, and Barış Falay—adds depth, with many of them having worked in Turkish crime dramas before . The chemistry between these actors could be a key factor in the film’s success, though the evidence doesn’t reveal whether they had prior collaborations with Bayraktar.
Netflix’s Role and the Film’s Reception
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtutz3CJBmc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWGzMb3ALPc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNlEdUmROyM
10 Days of a Good Man is a Netflix original, which likely gave Bayraktar and his team creative freedom while ensuring a global audience. The streaming giant has been investing heavily in Turkish content, and this film seems to be part of that push. Multiple official trailers—including one explicitly labeled as a Netflix release—hint at a polished marketing campaign .
Critically, the film has garnered mixed but respectable feedback. On SensCritique, it holds a 6/10 rating based on 46 votes, with praise for its pacing and performances but some criticism of its predictability . Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t yet have a score for the film, but its listing confirms the core cast and suggests it’s part of a broader conversation about Turkish crime dramas .
Unanswered Questions and Rumors
Despite the buzz, some details remain murky. For instance:
- Budget and Production Challenges: There’s no evidence about the film’s budget or whether it faced delays or on-set drama. Bayraktar’s television work often involves high production values, but it’s unclear if 10 Days of a Good Man had similar resources.
- Sequel Potential: The film’s title mirrors 10 Days of a Bad Man (2023), another Turkish crime thriller with a similar premise but a different cast . While the two films aren’t directly connected, the naming convention has led to speculation about whether 10 Days of a Good Man could spawn a franchise. However, there’s no confirmation of this in the available evidence.
- Awards Buzz: The film hasn’t been widely discussed in awards circles, but İşler and Fettahoğlu’s performances could draw attention if the film gains traction.
The Bottom Line
10 Days of a Good Man is a crime thriller that plays to its director’s strengths and features a cast with serious dramatic chops. While the behind-the-scenes details are thin, the evidence suggests a project that benefits from Bayraktar’s experience in the genre and Netflix’s global reach. Whether it’s a standalone hit or the start of something bigger remains to be seen—but for now, it’s a compelling addition to Turkey’s growing slate of crime dramas.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.