Bordertown: The Mural Murders (2021) User Reviews

Border Town: The Mural Murders

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 9 December 2021]

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.

Insane in the brain

[Calicodreamin · 6/10 · 5 December 2021]

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.

Absurd plot, with a satisfying ending

[douglasmcbroom · 5/10 · 26 September 2022]

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.

Thinner.....

[jeffdstockton · 6/10 · 16 December 2021]

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.

IM A FAN! But...

[jcolorado-arquitecto · 7/10 · 31 December 2021]

I am a fan of the series, and I loved seeing everyone on the screen again, I think there are chapters of the series with more intrigue than the movie, even so I hope there will be more movies, my favorite Netflix series.

Two Much

[polsixe · 7/10 · 21 December 2021]

Creators of this series are far tointo a contrived conflict and cat and mouse play between Soronen and Maasalo. So here they go again with Lena the FSB agent and the two daughters also returning. Good enough procedural movie with some added gore, viewers would be well off to know the backstories and previous seasons to appreciate it all. At least this time it seems to have some closure.

It could be worse

[osmiobr · 2/10 · 9 January 2022]

Yes, Luckly it is one episode and not a new season. They definitly ran out of ideas. Weak plot and characters, Finland police portraited as a family business., absurd interrogations and as if that was not enough, a serial killer is taken to be interviewed in an univerity. Seriously? Too much even for fiction. The predicability of most scenes is comic. I wasted almost two hours with this.

A pleasant surprise

[marcielynne · 8/10 · 3 December 2021]

Just as I finished the last episode of the third season of Bordertown, I saw that there was a new movie to keep things rolling. I was very pleased. While I was sad that Bordertown ended, as it was extremely good, with its twists and turns and great acting, Mural Murders was just a little quick to end for me! I loved it and did miss some of the regulars but my absolute favorite was there front and center! Ville Virtanen, is an amazing actor and I would love to see more Kari Sorjonen anytime in the near future! If you enjoyed the three seasons of Bordertown, you have to watch this movie!

Disappointment

[laduqesa · 4/10 · 2 January 2022]

There just wasn't enough time to develop the themes in this spin-off sequel film. Sorjonen was in the mental hospital unable to function yet the cops came to him for advice and, hey presto, he's out and back to normal.

However, was he? It's a difficult film to get into if one hasn't seen the previous seasons as we are dropped right into the characters without explanation or history. And Sorjonen is not himself - he is being manipulated by the sub-Hannibal Lecter figure orchestrating the murders of supposedly wicked people from his prison cell.

The whole story needed more development that couldn't be framed in a film format. There were also unexplained lapses of character - Sorjonen virtually sexually abuses a survivor at one stage, something I would not have expected. The final scene was also unexpectedly out of character too. Should we look more deeply though? Was it a deficiency in the script or was it the final manipulation by the killer of a damaged mind that should not have come out of the hospital?

Because it was a film, there was little in the way of sub-plots. I missed Lena's forays into Russia and the intricacies of the plotlines snaking across the frontier - it's called Bordertown, after all.

Well, I hope for another season when I'll put this film behind me.

Great 360 degree for the TV series and left me wanting more

[venus_in_white · 8/10 · 2 December 2021]

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.

Absolutely stupid plot line

[bevin_brett · 3/10 · 9 December 2021]

The totally predictable escape of the villain was so contrived it utterly ruined this movie.

Somehow the villain goes from being a guy who kills by drugs to a superb martial arts fighter and weapons expert, while his handlers have obviously forgotten almost every possible rule about moving a likely escapee outside a prison

The series of lucky breaks, rather than either persistence or insights, that lead the investigation also shows a lack of script writing skills

The actors - well, they do their best with the rubbish hand they have been dealt.

Much as I loved the three series..

[TomatoesareRotten · 5/10 · 7 December 2021]

,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.

NOT THE USUAL FORMAT BUT QUITE GOOD

[albertval-69560 · 8/10 · 4 December 2021]

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.

Just not the same as TV series

[nije-mala · 5/10 · 2 December 2021]

As much as I loved Bordertown in the form of TV series (all 3 seasons), the movie didn't do much for me. The script is trite, and even though there was an attempt to mimic the slow burning manner of the TV show, it was difficult to cram it into the 11 minutes... Nevertheless, 5 stars for another superb acting performance my Mr. Virtanen, a true master of his craft.

For those with Sorjonen withdrawal symptoms

[berlin55 · 10/10 · 5 December 2021]

Familiarity can breed contempt, but in this case when there is a strong main character and history which you can draw on, the film can still manage to pack the punches of the series and provide twists. Of course it is not like watching all those cliffhangers and episodes, however there is enough for the fan and certainly a lot for Nordic Noir aficionados. I think that Lena could have her own spin off series too. If you think my 10 is over generous that is because quite frankly there are no other series/films that quite get me - I would say it is like someone who is drinking espressos and suddenly has tepid Earl Grey tea. Enjoy this film and go back to the series. The series and film are well scripted and the two central back stories do the business. Thanks to the director and cast for making my Sunday entertaining.

Great acting, but script lacking

[catbert-59287 · 4/10 · 4 December 2021]

The talented actors were able to get right back into their complex characters with some twists added. Mural Murders started with promise, but silly and outlandish plot choices were introduced to take the action where they wanted it to go. The shorter movie vs. Regular season length left the viewers with a feeling that story lines were cut short, were barely explained, or disappeared all together.

There was a disturbing scene where Kari, during an interview to manipulate information from a suspect, inappropriately touched and caressed an adult survivor of child sexual assault. It was creepy, and I would imagine illegal police procedure. Next time Kari tried it, the suspect shives him in the gut with a pen. I was actually rooting for the suspect at the time. Inexplicably, Kari's daughter was the only one deemed necessary to put a bandage over his wound. I guess sepsis doesn't exist there?

For any followers of this series, it's worth watching. Just know, it's not the high caliber we're used to.

Kari became a cartoon of himself

[yvonnelassalle · 2/10 · 10 February 2022]

This movie strayed so very far from the first season, the characters are almost unrecognizable.

Kari is a cartoon (somewhat offensive one at that) of a mentally ill person. We already began to see him turn into something of a monster (who leaves a a dying spouse's last birthday party to go to work? LMAO) The interesting. Quirky and yes empathetic detective from the first season is completely gone.

Lena, previously awesome, fierce and so broken is now just a insubordinate whack job.

Janinna should have told her father to go f himself when he suggested that she intervene in the case. She totally would have done it in Season 1 and 2.

Massalo must be the Eveready Bunny's boring cousin. He wont die, but he hasn't much juice left in him either.

I guess the writers wanted to make sure that nobody asked them to write another sentence for a Bordertown script.

Masterclass in the genre,

[radunn · 10/10 · 24 July 2022]

1. It is *essential* to have watched all of the episodes of the series prior to watching this film - this film is by *no means* a "stand alone".

2. This film takes all the best aspects of the series (cast, writing, direction, filming, etc) and boosts it to a whole new level.

3. It would be fantastic to see see more like this!

Disappointing coda to a great series

[mzand-751-539572 · 4/10 · 11 December 2021]

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WRITING? Nonsensical situations combined with completely confusing motivations and plot twists ruined what was one of the best Nordic Noir series ever made. If you loved the series "Bordertown" don't ruin the memory with this one-off mess of a movie.

Kari kicks ass! (spoilers included)

[vedranabaletic-84510 · 9/10 · 11 December 2021]

Bigges thing that was unclear to me, and that i have resent for, is how tf he ended up in asylum. Bordertown is great series. This movie is like average 2 episodes combo. Personally i don't like entire Massalo storyline. But ending is badass and it deserves 2stars only for that.

I hope Masalo won't resurrect somehow.

DISAPPOINTED

[pjkblue-35926 · 3/10 · 7 August 2022]

Not anywhere near as good as the series. It was all over the place...characters here, there and everywhere. Explanations were sparse and the main investigator Kari was turned into a "drive-thru" caricature of what he was in the series. No other cast were fleshed-out and a number of the scenes were completely ridiculous and...well DUMB! Too bad, when I saw that the movie was on Netflix I had high hopes that it would be good. Sorry to say it was not worth the time.

It's a sequel

[SpicyRamenDude · 5/10 · 14 December 2021]

If you did not watch Bordertown you'll get confused. I went in blind in this movie and just clicked absentmindedly browsing Netflix. The description's first few lines didn't really state that it was a sequel. Minutes into the movie I realize it was the characters from Bordertown. It was nice seeing them again but the story and the twist after twist are just okay. I really like the ending tho.

One of those pieces that proves what King's always said: good characters are better than plot

[gabriel_sanchez · 8/10 · 3 November 2022]

I was surprised by this flick and its quality. It hooked me until the end with an interesting character and a nice plot.

In Sorjonen: Muraalimurhat, American-titled: Bordertown: The Mural Murders, we follow Kari Sorjonen on his quest to arrest the Judge: a murderer who apparently has close connections to enprisioned serial killer Lasse Maasalo, whom Kari arrested.

Kari is one of those Stephen King-type characters. He is flawed, too flawed, but he is ultimately good. He has this cool trait to remember stuff that I just love. Kudos to sir Ville Virtanen for an amazing performance.

The plot develops around the investigation that Kari leads to find the Judge. With a number of twists, this is one of those whodoneit stories.

I can't say it is perfect. Maybe because I had to switch from original audio to English dubbed and, later, to Portuguese, I lost some important piece, and, at the end, I couldn't make out what just happened. I had to read the plot on a site to understand the ending. Once it became clear, I think I can give it the shy thumbs up.

Recommendable if you like mysteries with a slow-paced rythm that is about characters.

Horrible movie

[janmanuel2 · 1/10 · 9 December 2021]

Needs editing. It's exceptionally choppy, with a terrible bizarre plot. Some things were never explained. The top 5 targets are such an odd mix. From terrible criminals to lighter weight. That made no sense. If these detectives are the cream of the crop, then that department is in big trouble. The stupid things they do are a real turn off. Real police detectives would never do some of the things they did. This was also confusing. I felt as if I walked into a movie where I had missed half. I'm writing this review before it's even over. Cause I don't care who the Judge is anymore.

Wow!

[ornette-94997 · 10/10 · 9 January 2022]

If you're going to wrap up and end an absolutely epic series w a single movie, this is how you do it. Its essentially one last extended episode of the Bordertown show. If you didn't see the show you won't enjoy the movie. Pure fan service and I have to say I am real real satisfied. All the themes from the original Lasse Massalo plot that ran through the backbone of the series and even some of the same locations, the same music, pacing, etc. Left me tense and gasping at the end. WTF?? Bravo!!

If you haven't seen the entire show, DON'T START HERE, you'll be watching the ending with no intro and not understand at all what's going on.