Bordertown: The Mural Murders (2021)
Story overview
A Finnish crime thriller where detective Sorjonen investigates a series of murders linked to a blood-painted mural at Pasila train station depicting serial killer Lasse Maasalo. The case connects to a disturbing social media voting campaign where people nominate individuals 'the world would be better without.' As bodies appear, Sorjonen races to identify 'The Judge' - a vigilante killer acting on these votes.
Parent Guide
A dark Finnish crime thriller with serial killer themes, blood imagery, and psychological tension. Suitable for mature audiences only.
Content breakdown
Crime scene violence including blood-painted mural, murder victims shown (not graphically detailed), tense investigation scenes, references to serial killings. More psychological than graphic violence.
Disturbing themes of vigilante killings based on social media votes, serial killer references, blood imagery, psychological manipulation. The concept of voting for people to eliminate is particularly unsettling.
Minimal strong language expected in crime drama context. Finnish dialogue may contain equivalent of mild cursing.
No sexual content or nudity noted in available information.
No substance use highlighted in description.
Sustained tension throughout investigation, moral dilemmas about justice, dark atmosphere. Less action-oriented, more cerebral intensity.
Parent tips
This is a mature crime thriller with serial killer themes, blood imagery, and psychological tension. Best for older teens and adults. Contains crime scene violence, disturbing concepts about killing 'undesirable' people, and suspenseful investigations. No sexual content or strong language noted, but the dark subject matter requires discretion.
Parent chat guide
Parent follow-up questions
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- What makes a good detective? How do police solve crimes?
- Why do you think someone would paint with blood? What's the difference between movie blood and real blood?
- How does this film comment on social media's power? What's dangerous about voting for people 'the world would be better without'?
- Compare this Finnish crime drama to American ones - what cultural differences do you notice?
- Do you think 'The Judge' has a point about justice? Why is vigilante action problematic?
- How does the mural function as both art and crime scene evidence?
🎭 Story Kernel
At its core, 'Bordertown: The Mural Murders' explores the psychological toll of obsession—both the killer's artistic compulsion and Inspector Sorjonen's relentless pursuit. The murders aren't just crimes; they're elaborate performances that force Sorjonen to confront his own fractured psyche. The film suggests that true detection requires entering the killer's mindset, blurring lines between hunter and hunted. Sorjonen's personal tragedies—his wife's illness, his daughter's distance—parallel the case's emotional weight, making this less about solving murders than surviving them. The ending reveals the killer was a former police officer, turning the investigation into an institutional self-critique.
🎬 Visual Aesthetics
The film employs a stark, desaturated palette dominated by grays and blues, mirroring both the Finnish winter landscape and Sorjonen's emotional detachment. Camera work is deliberately static during investigation scenes, creating a clinical, observatory feel that contrasts with chaotic handheld shots during discoveries. The murals themselves are the only bursts of color—vivid reds and golds that literally paint violence into art. Director Juuso Laatio uses reflective surfaces (windows, mirrors, ice) throughout, visually reinforcing the theme of distorted self-perception. The final confrontation's lighting—half-shadow, half-bright—visually represents Sorjonen's moral ambiguity.
🔍 Details & Easter Eggs
💡 Behind the Scenes
Ville Virtanen (Sorjonen) studied real Finnish detectives' mannerisms, particularly their subdued emotional responses. The murals were painted by local Helsinki artists over three weeks, using weather-resistant acrylics for outdoor scenes. Director Juuso Laatio insisted on practical effects for the blood in murals, mixing syrup and food coloring. Filming coincided with Finland's coldest winter in decades, with temperatures dropping to -30°C, affecting camera equipment and actor performances. The script was revised after the original 'Bordertown' creator, Miikko Oikkonen, consulted on maintaining Sorjonen's character consistency.
Where to watch
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- Netflix
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