Console
best movie i've ever seen.
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Bluebell Alcock
Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies
trowsea
This strange, visually arresting morality-slash-horror play is well worth the time. Set in the dense forests and wilderness of 16th century Finland, the plot features two brothers-- one an embittered veteran of the recent wars between Sweden and Russia, the other a naive geographer hoping to make for himself during the map making expedition. They and the rest of the surveying team, including rival Russian troops, soon discover a mysterious village hidden deep within an immense swampland. While the villagers have all fled the wars, instead the brothers and the rest of the surveying group are forced by a merciless spirit to confront their wartime deeds as well as a bloody incident during the expedition. It's uncertain if the spirit is a demon or is a manifestation of their own inner ghosts, but either way (in the great last line of Session 9) it feeds on "the weak and the wounded." Whether the brothers are cleansed or are devoured by the possessive force leads to a dark, unsettling finale.For fans of slower, more thoughtful horror, and especially horror stories set within unique historical circumstances (e.g. Black Death or R-Point), Sauna is a must-see. The costumes, scenery and cinematography alone make for a memorable experience, never mind the universally strong acting and relentlessly chilling atmosphere.
Sindre Kaspersen
Eerik Spore is a darkened war veteran with 73 lives on his consciousness, who has lost his empathetic abilities during the times of war. The only person he looks at with a certain form of consideration is his younger brother Knut, an academic and philanthropist who has ambitions about going to Stockholm to become a professor. The two brothers are posted at the cold border between Sweden, Finland and Russia in the years 1595. The war that started in 1570 between Russia and Sweden after Russia had made an attempt to conquer the swedes possessions in Estland, is over. Now the borders are to be set and a commission consisting of the brothers Spore and three Russian's sets the course north on a two day march through a widespread quagmire to meet another commission by the river Kiertämä. The tension between the men rises rapidly, and when Knut experiences clear visions of a woman he and his brother left behind in a locked cellar, his moral compass is awakened.Finnish director Antti-Jussi Annila's second feature film, an ominous and atmospheric horror/thriller about two very different brothers' mystic experiences during the Nordic twenty-five-year-war, visualizes the fine line between reality and imagination through it's dominating use of visuals and sounds. Through passionless landscapes surrounded by mountains, trees and water, we follow five uncooperative men who are haunted by a horrible misdeed committed by the Swedish brothers. The men arrive at a nameless village that has a sauna which according to the folk myth can wash away people's sins. A sauna reminiscent of the one in Andrei Tarkovsky's "Stalker" (1979), where one's innermost wishes could come true."Sauna" has a masterful narrative that moves very quiet for a long time. The invincible boost of intensity has a striking effect and escalates with unpredictable pace towards the film's thrilling climax. The enigmatic screenplay is a substantial example of the art of storytelling within Scandinavian film and obtains a short though leading dialog that underpins the film's obscure atmosphere. With his perceptive filming Aj Annila follows the characters at all times with the exception of some distant photos of the grand landscape and the esoteric sauna. Characteristic for Annila's direction is frequent use of close ups and hand-held camera movements. A metaphysical study of character, a terrifying folklore or a historic drama, "Sauna" is no stereotypic horror film. Without exaggerating the use of splatter scenes Aj Annila manages to create a cryptic, poetic, illusory and continuant atmosphere which is a character in itself and almost solely representative of the film's horror aspects. From the mythical depictions of milieu and the detailed costumes, a realistic sense of time and place is contrived. The acting is excellent and seen as a whole "Sauna" is an audio-visual and epic masterpiece with auras of mysticism, that tinder's of artistic expressions.
runamokprods
Strikingly beautiful Finnish art house 'horror' film about guilt, religion, sin and punishment, set in the 16th century, at the end of the Russian/Swedish war. It's full of atmosphere, symbolism, and unanswered questions. Two Swedish brothers/soldiers -- one intellectual, the other violent and borderline mad -- come to a strange town where they are confronted with eerie reminders of their sins, and of those they have killed in war. Slow paced, but not boring. However, the underlying ideas do get stretched a bit thin over time, and the occasional turn to horror clichés was a little disappointing given the generally high level of intelligence and originality. Still, interesting enough that I would give it another look now that I understand what its getting at, and gorgeous enough that I'll still enjoy it, even if I'm once again left with mixed feelings about some of the content. Mention also must be made of the arresting performance by Ville Virtanen as the violent Eerik, recalling Max Von Sydow in his prime.
experten-1
It is a stylish gloomy film. But it is very boring film. Action occurs very slowly. Events are not present. Besides, the film contains too many anachronisms and historical errors.The uniform of soldiers, their ranks, a manner to speak and many other things does not correspond to time in which there is a film action.The sense of events also is not clear. Nevertheless, once it is possible to look. From the pleasant moments it is necessary to note good work of actors. Gloom of a film is well allocated thanks to excellent work of the camera man. This film can very much it will be pleasant to fans of gloomy mystical thrillers. My rating 4/10
