Sorjonen: Muraalimurhat

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.

This film is a sequel to the series 'Bordertown'; if you have yet to watch the series the film will be hard to follow as no time is wasted introducing the various protagonists.

When a mural of convicted killer Lasse Maasalo and the words 'Let's Make the World a Better Place' are painted in blood the police contact Kari Sorjonen, the former detective who is undergoing treatment for psychiatric problems. After looking at the evidence he is convinced that Maasalo must have manipulated somebody else into committing the murder but he has conditions before he will talk to the authorities. Somebody has set up a website to identify the five people who would be least missed; the first victim was number one on the list; presumably the others will follow. Kari's former partner, Lena, is back in Finland and her daughter is number seven on the list.

Having enjoyed the series I watched this as soon as I saw it was on Netflix. I thought the film was effective but not as good as the series. It started well but most of the scenes featuring Maasalo, especially those where he spoke first to Sorjonen's daughter the Sorjonen himself, felt far too obviously inspired by Hannibal Lector. It was good to see all the usual characters again although one wonders just how often Lena's daughter Katia can get herself in trouble! The acting is solid; especially from Ville Virtanen, as Kari. The various settings are fairly impressive. Overall I'd definitely recommend to fans of the series wanting more... if you like the look of it but haven't yet seen the series, watch that first.

These comments are based on watching the film in Finnish with English subtitles.

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.

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.

,this is utterly preposterous. Did they honestly believe they could lift the Lecter/Buffalo Bill storyline and supplant it ( poorly ) in Finland ? Police procedures right of the window, a serial killer uncuffed in a school hall. Poor outing this one and it's quite obvious that the budget has gone, hence the reason there would no series 4. Disappointed.