Hah, Finnish (jet) black humour does it again!
If you like jet black, bone dry humour, this is surely an epitome of the genre; as, if 'Hostel' like spectator 'sport' shock set ups, along with Tarantino grating shock-like story-development elements, yet all wrapped around by such jarring black humour that can make you wonder, did Teemu, director AND writer really just set that before us?, do it for you, you'll find this right up your street - or rather, down your graffitied basement dive!
Yet, no surprise; as both writer and director Teemu Nikki has form here;
already his earlier 'The Euthaniser' - (also reviewed in hereunder selections) - is exemplary in this niche - and which there, with, incidentally, main title role played by Matti Onnismaa, and who in this also has a significant, if, um, blink - (wanna close ya eyes tight shut, as at what is presented to you of him!) - and you could miss him, role in this set-up;
but then likewise, also to the other, ah, well, 'players' to this story, too, in that you also get some top droll performances by all the main characters to make up this bold portrayal of happy life circumstances* in Finland;
like, besides, in its main role, Pekka Strang, as the most convincing lugubrious loser gambler - 'player' / ('manipulator' - if it helps to indicate what this is about) - of the title, with his to-be partner, Jari Virman, as the darling, bewildered, cute, literal airhead (! 'Arto' - check his eye emoting when 'testing' the 'it won't affect you' Russian roulette participation), to equal 'darling' Elina Knihtilä as the world weary, (seen it all!) 'madam', there are many other bit parts played so well, too; e.g. Just one other: the muscle henchman 'gun handler' (Timo Julkanen?) who just utters a disappointed grunt when his enthusiastically anticipated chainsaw duties use, is perfunctorily curtailed - had me guffawing!
Ok, enough obliqueness to try and entice a come on to watch this without major plot spoiling - just let it unwind in front of you without knowing where its going - because I want to share, shout out loud, I found this laugh out loud hilarious at the shock horror inferences this sets before us for how life in Finland likely (really?) routinely proceeds .. well, all good storylines based on something of reality, huh, Teemu? - *so to achieve its famed reputation to be the happiest nation on Earth; indeed, 't'was already sixth consecutive time for when this was concocted, written by what seems to be a theme of director writer Nikki's oeuvre and so should be praised and recognised for its complete brilliance.
Find, watch and be stunned, yet highly amused!
Brilliant - (again) - Teemu (and co.)!
