Bordertown: Murales de sangre

It's a sequel but made as a full-length movie. What's it about Scandinoir that makes it so immersive? This rendition is quite consistent with the series. All the essential elements are there to make it thoroughly engaging.

Kari Sorjonen is back albeit hesitantly at first. But he does what he does best in the manner he does it best because of, or maybe, inspite of his mental issues. And so is the team notably Lena and Heikkinen and master criminal Lasse Maasala.

Go for it. The format isn't what we're accustomed to but it's totally enjoyable. One might wonder though why the producer changed the film's format--from a series to a full-length movie.

If you haven't seen the three seasons of Bordertown, I can't imagine this movie making any sense. Even having seen the prior series, the plot in this one is so ludicrously bad it beggars belief.

Firstly, the most compelling reason to watch Bordertown is Ville Vertanen (Kari Sorjonen) who is compelling to watch. An absolute virtuoso. He looks a lot like Steve McQueen would have looked at 65 (although Vertanen is younger than that). The character he and the writers have created is wholly unique and compelling.

Then, there is the character of his daughter, Janina (Olivia Ainali), whom I could not stand in the original series. Her arrogance and moralizing and telling everyone what was wrong with them was frustrating. She is coddled, spoiled and indulged by both her parents. When the boy, in the series, knocked the snot out of her, after being repeatedly bullied, I cheered. This movie has toned her down a lot. She is not nearly so annoying.

The mysterious Lena (Anna Sinisalo) is back and is as much of a mystery as ever.

The problem with this movie and the reason it has lower reviews than the series, is the absurd plot. No police agency would ever let a no-nothing child interview a renowned and highly-dangerous serial killer, like Maasalo (Sampo Sarkola) and then agree to allow him to address a class in person. Then, the height of incredulity, the police allow this child to make the decision on removing his restraints. Then, the idiots transport this lethal killer, not in the back of an armored van, but in the backseat of a car. The back-up car is trailing so far behind they cannot see the car with the serial killer. When they finally arrive, this 'crack' SWAT team, heavily armed and armored, go into this ridiculous maneuver designed to get them killed.

The ending, however, when Kari takes matters into his own hands, was very satisfying.

This had the feel of an opening episode for a new series of Bordertown but managed to pack a whole story into the time. I'm happy this was made and it gave us all another taste of the excellent team in action. Glad there were no substitutions and Kari and Lena were able to maintain their intriguing characters. Will there be more shorts like this? I would certainly welcome a new storyline with the same style and depth.

Good to see most of them back together. It looks great, has very similar tension and pace.

It doesn't live up to the amazing series, though. Definitely suffers some thin spots that are not internally consistent (fundamental, very basic police errors... ridiculous) and a needlessly 'uber- villian' that just doesn't come off as having the power that the writer(s) give him.

These failings are unfair to viewers, and to devotees of the series.

It's good, probably mainly because we're eager for the series to return. Without seeing the series first, this movie is less engaging.

Some good things happened in this follow up film, like Lena acting like a human being towards Katia and Janina not being an absolute weirdo. But a lot of nonsensical things that stretched the possible just to allow the plot to develop. Decent acting and storyline resolution.