Euthanizer

Certainly original with a permutation of genres throughout that leaves this not yielding to any one definition. Dark yes, comedic yes, beautifully European. Some will cringe, some will laugh. Involves some human and animal trauma, be warned, though all of it justified in the films universe by the philosophy of a character. I wont be forgetting about this film, though I wish I did not watch it, pretty heavy and gnarly in places. Humor this dark, for me, is more dark than humorous. I must be getting old !! :)

A small, confined and precisely executed movie about an emotionally scarred middle-aged man, who euthanizes pets - and judges their owners while doing it. It's sort of missing the point to call Armomurhaaja a thriller; at its core Armomurhaaja is a comedy, a very, very dark comedy about moral relativism and purism. Topics that are visited in movies way too rarely. Armomurhaaja is the bluntest examination on morality seen on the silver screen in ages. And a successful one at that. Actor Onnismaa's cantankerous, unrelenting, uncompromising, stubborn and anachronistic character demands to be taken seriously, because he will not sell out his values, and makes a convincing argument that his values - while not his methods - should be universal values.

The experienced Teemu Nikki is an original thinker, and knows how to make movies. Armomurhaaja looks about five times its budget (the IMDb estimated production cost is, if anything, an over-estimation) and is told in a sure-footed manner. It is also the best friend an animal, a pet, can have in the cinemaverse.

The story is a bizarre mixture of blunt-force exploration of everyday life, and disturbing behavior bordering on cruelty. Teemu Nikki manages to humanize and rationalize his dark, disenfranchised characters, while pushing the limits of likability with ease. At times hard to watch, especially for the animal lover, "Euthanizer" touches ground in experimental, exploitative states. There is balance and breath, if only slightly, in a cast able bring to life fully developed characters that feel natural.

The effects are stark, visceralmoments of realism that cause knee-jerk "look away" urges. There is dark sense that lingers over every moment that tickles at shock value simply by experiencing the events asthey unfold. The subject matter and in-your -face cruelty create the real horror.

Overall "Euthanizer" is gonna be one of those films you either like or you hate. It blends the darkside of everyday affair in arthouse fashion. The story disturbing and compelling. Characters are recognizable and easy to hate.The things you see unfold are harsh and hard to watch, but it is worth the watch

Euthanizing a pet is a painful and awful process. Some people are wary of taking their pet to a veterinarian for this service. This is where Veijo steps in. He provides a pet euthanizing service that is outside the scope of the law as well as professional standards. Customers get what they pay for. Veijo's price is a sliding scale. The better Veijo believes the customer cares for their pet, the better the price. The toll goes beyond money and into the realm of karmic retribution. Veijo believes that people need to suffer for the pain they cause. Those who do not take responsibility for their animals are subject to biting lectures, insults, price increases, violence and other odd penalties. When it becomes apparent that Veijo's blunt, impulsive and harmful behavior is not limited to his customers, the wheels of true karma and justice begin to churn.

This dark and wacky comedy is a welcome antidote to the neutered and boring slop that pervades much of the airwaves and networks of the world. The story, characters and themes are refreshing and intriguing. However, the film could benefit from more depth and support across the board; dialogue, cinematography, plot, organization, funding and more. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Not a comfortable film. but an useful one. for simplicity. for dark traces. for a story about a man, his passion , options and life. a parable. or just a form of fairy tale. a film about the essence of humankind. and about choices. about pets, life and karma. and about curses . and the need of equilibrium. and about hate. against yourself. the best thing - maybe the performances. and the rhytm of story. and the details of plot. because it is a film about meanings. and answers. defining the most deep solitude. a support of reflection. about near basic things.