Bordertown: The Mural Murders (2021): Cast & Ratings
Bordertown: The Mural Murders is a 2021 crime film directed by Juuso Syrjä, starring Sampo Sarkola as Lasse Maasalo, Ville Virtanen and Olivia Ainali. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and was made on a reported $3 million budget. Its Echo Score is 66/100.
- Echo Score
- 66
- budget
- $3M
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 47m (107 min)
- Director
- Juuso Syrjä
- Genre
- Crime
- Original language
-
Finnish
- Studio
- Fisher King Production
- Budget
- $3M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Bordertown: The Mural Murders About?
The premise of Bordertown: The Mural Murders without spoilers.
A shocking mural painted with blood appears on the wall of Helsinki's Pasila train station, depicting notorious Finnish serial killer Lasse Maasalo. The artwork includes a message linked to a viral social media campaign where people nominate individuals they believe would improve the world by their absence. When the first victim is discovered, detective Seppo Sorjonen must race against time to identify the perpetrator, who has adopted the alias "The Judge."
Bordertown: The Mural Murders Themes & Keywords
· 7 tags- killer
- serial killer
- hunt
- nordic noir
- blood
- mural
- world
Bordertown: The Mural Murders Cast & Characters
Sampo Sarkola leads the cast as Lasse Maasalo, with Ville Virtanen as Kari Sorjonen and Olivia Ainali as Janina Sorjonen. Directed by Juuso Syrjä; 32 actors are credited in all.
- Director Juuso Syrjä
- Sampo Sarkola as Lasse Maasalo
-
Ville Virtanen as Kari Sorjonen - Olivia Ainali as Janina Sorjonen
-
Tomi Alatalo as Teurastaja Timo Lauermaa
Also Starring in Bordertown: The Mural Murders
· 28 more- Mari Rantasila Kriminologi
- Anu Sinisalo Lena Jaakkola
- Arttu Kapulainen Tuomari Henri Tervamaa
- Markku Maalismaa Pertti Suomaa
- Andrei Alén Terapeutti Emil Lindroos
- Tiina Weckström Anna-Liisa Suomaa
- Juha Kukkonen Santeri Santamäki
- Kristiina Halttu Taina Henttunen
- Satu Paavola Veera Niemi
- Liisa Mustonen Hoitaja
- Christian Sandström Tekninen tutkija 1
- Johan Storgård Tuomas Heikkinen
- Cecilia Paul Yöhoitaja
- Lenita Susi Katia Jaakkola
- Anna-Elina Lyytikäinen Oikeuslääkäri
- Aki Kivelä Korsto vanki
Show all 32 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Henrik Öling Anders Wesselius
- Onni Ahonen Max Aho
- Nenna Tyni Assistentti
- Jarno Malinen Samu Martikainen
- Anna Hanski Syyttäjä
- Nelli Juusela Opiskelija
- Nora Schüller Pirjo Kärnänen
- Yasmin Janatuinen Opiskelija
- Matias Petäistö Poliisin erikoisryhmä / Karhuryhmä (T4F Finland)
- Janne Lehtonen Poliisin erikoisryhmä / Karhuryhmä (T4F Finland)
- Mikko Herd Poliisin erikoisryhmä / Karhuryhmä (T4F Finland)
- Antti Vaittinen Poliisin erikoisryhmä / Karhuryhmä (T4F Finland)
More from Juuso Syrjä
One more film directed by Juuso Syrjä: Ella And Aleksi - Surprise Birthday Party.
Bordertown: The Mural Murders Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in story & flow (55).
Bordertown: The Mural Murders Echo Score Breakdown
In terms of overall impression, the film delivers a competent neo‑noir atmosphere that satisfies existing fans of the series while presenting challenges for newcomers. The acting and visual design receive consistent praise, whereas the plot’s reliance on prior installments and occasional logical gaps generate mixed reactions. Consequently, the movie offers solid entertainment for its target audience but falls short of broader narrative coherence.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 70
Direction and production design maintain a polished aesthetic, with effective dubbing that matches actors’ lips and settings that appear impressive. Cinematography is praised for its clean look, though occasional scenes feel derivative. Editing sustains a measured pace, contributing to an overall competent visual presentation.
- Character & Emotion 75
Performances are a notable strength, with Ville Virtanen delivering a nuanced portrayal that anchors the narrative. Supporting actors provide solid, believable interactions, and returning characters add depth for series followers. Some viewers note uneven character arcs and occasional over‑dramatic moments, but overall the ensemble conveys credible emotional stakes.
- Story & Flow 55
The narrative builds on previous series material, offering intriguing concepts such as a psychic detective and a manipulative killer. However, plot development suffers from unresolved threads, implausible police procedures, and reliance on background knowledge, which many find confusing. While pacing remains steady, the story’s coherence is compromised by these structural inconsistencies.
- Sensory Experience 70
The film’s sound design and score complement its bleak tone, with subtitles preserving dialogue clarity. Visual style is cohesive, featuring a muted color palette that reinforces the somber atmosphere. Although the soundtrack is understated, it enhances tension without overwhelming scenes, resulting in a consistent sensory experience.
- Rewatch Factor 60
For viewers acquainted with the series, the movie provides satisfactory closure and the chance to revisit familiar characters, enhancing rewatch appeal. Newcomers may struggle with the dense backstory, reducing incentive for repeat viewings. Overall, the film offers moderate replay value, primarily for fans seeking additional narrative resolution.
Bordertown: The Mural Murders Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Sorjonen” and “Bordertown: Ein besserer Ort”.
- Also known as
-
- Sorjonen
- Bordertown: Ein besserer Ort
- Bordertown : Du sang sur les murs
- Bordertown: Murales de sangre
- Miasteczko na granicy: Krwawe murale
- Bordertown: A Eliminação
- Ville frontière : Du sang sur les murs
- Bordertown: Duvardaki Sır
- Sorjonen: Krvavé poselství
- Сорйонен: Послание на стене
- Bordertown: Volja naroda
- Bordertown: Mural Murders
+2 more Show fewer
- Bordertown: Muralni umori
- Sorjonen: Muralmorden
Seen Bordertown: The Mural Murders?
Movies Like Bordertown: The Mural Murders
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Paint Me a Murder, Mördare utan ansikte and Mask of Murder.
-
Paint Me a Murder 1984 -
Mördare utan ansikte 1995 -
Mask of Murder 1985 -
Wallander: Mastermind 2005 -
Wallander: Blood Line 2006 -
On the Trail of Blood 1970 -
Wallander: The Revenge 2009 -
Murder by the Book 2018 -
Murder with Pictures 1936 -
Svalan, katten, rosen, döden 2006 -
Bordertown 2007 -
The Hunt for a Killer 2020
Bordertown: The Mural Murders FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, post-credit scenes and language of Bordertown: The Mural Murders, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Bordertown: The Mural Murders?
Bordertown: The Mural Murders runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).
When was Bordertown: The Mural Murders released?
Bordertown: The Mural Murders was released on October 27, 2021.
Who directed Bordertown: The Mural Murders?
Bordertown: The Mural Murders was directed by Juuso Syrjä.
More films by Juuso Syrjä Who is in the cast of Bordertown: The Mural Murders?
Bordertown: The Mural Murders stars Sampo Sarkola as Lasse Maasalo, Ville Virtanen as Kari Sorjonen and Olivia Ainali as Janina Sorjonen, among 32 credited actors.
What was the budget of Bordertown: The Mural Murders?
Bordertown: The Mural Murders had a reported budget of $3 million.
Does Bordertown: The Mural Murders have a post-credit scene?
No. Bordertown: The Mural Murders has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Bordertown: The Mural Murders in?
The original language of Bordertown: The Mural Murders is Finnish.
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