Good movies about strong women still exist outside the spineless brain-suck of “The Twilight Saga.” While Bella takes three movies to decide between a wolfman and a dead guy, audiences itching for quality storytelling can look no further than the “Millennium Trilogy” from the late Swedish author Stieg Larrson.

All three books are available now, and the Swedish movie version of the first book, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is now available on DVD, as well as Instant Viewing for Netflix subscribers. It’s a taut procedural anchored by the standout performance of Noomi Rapace as thick-skinned computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.

Lisbeth waits around for no guy with chiseled abs.

Although a brilliant private investigator, Lisbeth is extremely antisocial and deemed emotionally unstable by the state. She’s required to check in with a guardian, a disgusting man who only gives Lisbeth access to her bank account in exchange for sexual favors.

“Dragon Tattoo” is not a film for young audiences or the easily squeamish, and the film doesn’t hold back in a disturbingly brutal rape sequence. But by refusing to play the victim in any circumstance, Lisbeth forcibly takes control of the abusive relationship, and throughout the film, she never stands for any shenanigans from men. The original Swedish title of the novel translates to “Men Who Hate Women,” and Lisbeth is the metaphorical and literal executioner of such monsters.

The main storyline follows disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) as he investigates a 40-year-old mystery involving a missing girl and a dysfunctional wealthy family. Lisbeth and Blomkvist meet about halfway through the film and together uncover dark secrets about Nazis and decades-old murder.

The mystery unravels more logically than even the better-than-average cop show, and the relationship between Lisbeth and Blomkvist avoids the most obvious clichés of the genre. Rapace does fantastic work keeping Lisbeth’s anger and pain bubbling just below the surface, and the smallest gestures she directs at Blomkvist provide the film’s most penetrating emotional moments.

At a time when the American box office is overrun by skin-deep emotions portrayed by meagerly-talented teenagers, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is the perfect antidote. If only Bella could show such strength and intelligence. After all, better romantic options exist beyond blood-suckers and guys with furry tails.

The time is now to catch up on Larrson’s literary/film sensation. The first two books are available in paperback form, and the third book, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” was just released in the U.S. The second Swedish film, “The Girl Who Played with Fire,” opens in limited release this weekend and should expand to Spokane later this summer. The third film opens this fall. “Fight Club” director David Fincher is handling the American remakes, currently in pre-production.