Headhunters

The difference between what I expected and what I got is too huge. Headhunters is a sort of brutal Nordic pulp, properly cold, chilling, and balanced with a reasonable amount of irony and detachment. The chilling moments don't quite measure up to the best of Fincher, the screenwriting twist where "it all goes pear-shaped" is a worthy match for the Coens, and the proper butchery makes one think of earlier equally proper old-school American pieces. With all the charming melancholy of Scandinavia and a not entirely predictable conclusion, Headhunters can comfortably endeavor for foreign film status for 2011. I would sincerely wish them that, although I "honestly" doubt they’ll even get a nomination. I'd love to be wrong, because the inventiveness in this is truly immense. (01/09/2012)

When you’re only five and a half feet tall, you have to somehow compensate. Roger Brown is a small man who wants to live large and with a tall blonde. While he has to look up to his wife, his mistress looks up to him, but that’s not enough to bolster his ego or, mainly, to build up his bank account. So he makes money on the side. Perfect crimes that leave him unscathed and during the commission of which he leaves no trace of evidence at the crime scenes. Nevertheless, to defend his dubious position as a MAN, he will have no choice but to bathe in the shit (and blood) that he has managed to avoid so far. To walk through the wilderness, throw off the mask of civilisation and undergo the transformation from hunted to hunter. The core of Headhunters is a psychological drama about the crisis of male identity, but that core was rolled up in a thriller and sprinkled with black comedy, with the added bonus that it’s never clear in advance whether the next scene will raise a smile or turn your stomach. The film’s unpredictability (in its handling of genre conventions and the protagonist) is nicely complemented by its uncompromising nature (well, the excessive violence is…simply just excessive) and exaggeration, which, however, is not acknowledged as conspicuously as some situations would require. Sometimes what you expect to happen is funnier than what actually happens. At any rate, there isn’t much time to think about it, thanks to the momentum that Tyldum imparted to the film, during which we don’t lose track of the changes not only on Roger's body, but also inside his head. It’s possible that Nordic genre cinema really is that much better than what Hollywood produces in terms of quality. Appendix: Aksel Hennie is reminiscent of Buscemi and the film itself is reminiscent of Fargo and other movies by the Joel and Ethan Coen (that is, if you wanted to categorise it, but that’s not really possible in this case). 75% (11/11/2011)

I enjoyed this film. It's a crime thriller with a touch of drama and pitch-black comedy, and there's even a romantic element. I’m a fan of Jo Nesbo, especially the series featuring Harry Hole. Having read “Headhunters,” I’m surprised to say I liked the film more than the book. The main "hero" was extremely unlikable from the start, my sympathy grew as he was faced with more and more shit (literally). Nikolaj Coster-Waldau knows how to portray a bad guy. He has done it many times before and pulled it off again. This is the third time I’ve seen the film. I knew how the story would develop and how it would end, and I still loved every minute of it. Plus, I have to appreciate the lesson to be taken away from this film: when traveling on public transport, always sit between two obese passengers – it’s definitely worth the temporary discomfort. (12/19/2016)

It’s been long since two dead fat people were so funny… A perfect Nordic thriller, and, against expectations, it’s not serious or depressing, but a brisk and entertaining film that knows how to make you feel tension, surprise and fun. PS: Plus points for giving a certain animal species the end it deserved (#cantavoidphobia). (11/10/2011)

I finally understand why Jo Nesbo is considered a master in the field of crime literature. Based on such great source material, the screenplay is well-written and the film is well-directed. However, it must be noted that neither the screenwriters nor the director made any serious mistakes. For about three-quarters of the way, I was convinced that I was watching a 100% five-star film. Typical Scandinavian madness, pitch-black humor, crazy situations, absurdity - even if I didn't know the country of origin, I would immediately guess it's from one of the Nordic countries. But then comes the last quarter, delimited by Roger's encounter with his wife, playing on strong emotions, and the previous atmosphere starts to crumble a bit. When the finale arrived, I thought to myself that the screenwriter had indeed made two logical somersaults. Although the first one was saved by the final credits, the second one - how can a man in the main character's situation believe a woman and bet everything on one card? That really doesn't make sense to me. Nevertheless, Headhunters cannot be denied its originality, pervasive tension, captivating characters, and impressive ending. Despite some minor reservations, I lean toward a 5-star rating. There aren't many films like this, where it is a joy to follow the development of the plot and not be deceived by screenwriting shortcomings. Overall impression: 90%. Although I'm not a moralist, I definitely wouldn't let a 12-year-old child watch this film. After all, it is a quite bloody mess, not commonly seen in today's cinema. (08/18/2013)