Probably I should start by pointing out that I'm extremely biased regarding anything that comes out of Scandinavian countries. Pretty much by default, I love everything that is linked to Norway, Finland, Sweden, and to a slightly lesser extent Denmark and Iceland. Love the nature & versatile landscapes, the climate, the languages, the culture, the music (especially metal), the people, and - of course - the television series and movies! In other words, I was destined to love "The Hunters" before I even started watching, but it also genuinely is worth seeking out; trust me.
"The Hunters" revolves around two brothers reuniting after several years and following the death of their father. The oldest, Erik, was a successful cop in Stockholm but decides to move back to the homestead; - far north in rural Sweden and not too far from the borders with Norway and Finland. The youngest, Leif, always remained here at the family farm, and is somewhat frustrated because he never put his talent of opera singing to a good use and never really achieved anything. Joining the local police force, Erik gets assigned to the case of frequent illegal poaching of moose in the area, but quickly learns that the locals - including his former friends and own brother - are running the whole business. When the poachers accidentally kill an innocent activist, tensions go through the roof.
At my most skeptic, I must admit I expected for "The Hunters" to be even better. The script has a few holes and loose ends, and especially the character of Erik isn't too plausible. For a supposedly superior big-city copper he makes a few unforgivable mistakes (like allowing for his key witness to be abducted right in front of him). Everything else is exactly what I hoped for, though. The atmosphere is raw and gritty throughout, the villains are mean and merciless, the scenery is breath-taking, and the increasingly unbearable relationship between the two brothers is marvelously transferred to the screen. Lennart Jäkhel is stupendous as Leif, and he truly succeed in making his character come across as a combination between menacing, loathsome, miserable, and pitiable all at once. Jarmo Mäkinen is also very good as the mandatory psycho in the hunters' group. Can't wait for the sequel, which stars the one and only Peter Stormare speaking in his very own native language for a change!
"The Hunters" revolves around two brothers reuniting after several years and following the death of their father. The oldest, Erik, was a successful cop in Stockholm but decides to move back to the homestead; - far north in rural Sweden and not too far from the borders with Norway and Finland. The youngest, Leif, always remained here at the family farm, and is somewhat frustrated because he never put his talent of opera singing to a good use and never really achieved anything. Joining the local police force, Erik gets assigned to the case of frequent illegal poaching of moose in the area, but quickly learns that the locals - including his former friends and own brother - are running the whole business. When the poachers accidentally kill an innocent activist, tensions go through the roof.
At my most skeptic, I must admit I expected for "The Hunters" to be even better. The script has a few holes and loose ends, and especially the character of Erik isn't too plausible. For a supposedly superior big-city copper he makes a few unforgivable mistakes (like allowing for his key witness to be abducted right in front of him). Everything else is exactly what I hoped for, though. The atmosphere is raw and gritty throughout, the villains are mean and merciless, the scenery is breath-taking, and the increasingly unbearable relationship between the two brothers is marvelously transferred to the screen. Lennart Jäkhel is stupendous as Leif, and he truly succeed in making his character come across as a combination between menacing, loathsome, miserable, and pitiable all at once. Jarmo Mäkinen is also very good as the mandatory psycho in the hunters' group. Can't wait for the sequel, which stars the one and only Peter Stormare speaking in his very own native language for a change!