False Trail

This Swedish detective mystery is a film which is a sequel to a 90's movie I haven't actually seen, so I can't say how this one measures up against the original. Nevertheless, what can be said with certainty is this is another Scandinavian film which falls comfortably under the Nordic noir bracket. Like other north European thrillers, this one covers some dark and disturbing territory. A Stockholm police detective is sent to a small rural community to help solve the case of a missing girl, presumed murdered. He finds his more methodical methods at odds with the style of the lead police officer assigned to the case, a man who happens to be married to his widowed sister-in-law and who is now the father to his nephew.

This is another solid bit of Nordic noir, yet I would classify it as a lesser example of the sub-genre. While it is undoubtedly a compelling enough crime story, the resolution to the mystery isn't perhaps very surprising and revealed quite early at that. This is compounded further by the film being a little overlong at two hours plus, given its quite basic and relatively straightforward narrative, while the final confrontation sequence was a bit too much in standard thriller territory and felt like a bit of a let-down for me. I did think the acting was very good though and the sense of place a strong point typical for these types of features. I could just have done with a little more meat to the mystery. Still, my criticisms are still only relative to the generally high quality of recent Scandinavian crime films overall, as this remains a pretty solid mystery-thriller nevertheless. Aside from the crime story, there are family and city versus small town complications added to the mix and which do expand the drama. Overall, I would classify this as a good film as opposed to being a great one though.

FALSE TRAIL, a Swedish slice of crime noir, is a follow up to 1996's THE HUNTERS, and sees returning protagonist Erik Backstrom (Rolf Lassgard) back to solve more crimes in the chilly Scandinavian wilderness. Well, it took them fifteen years to make a sequel, but the wait was worth it: I find this to be a superior follow up in terms of excitement, thriller aspects, and pacing.

THE HUNTERS was a similarly-plotted story but had a different style of execution: it was darker, more of a family tragedy, and rather depressing. FALSE TRAIL is equally dark but has more of a conventional detective feel to it, a battle of wits between good and evil. Some viewers will find it the lesser piece, but I preferred it. It helps that Peter Stormare (FARGO) has a huge and complex role and is absolutely fantastic in it, the best work yet I've seen from the actor.

Inevitably, the taciturn and grumpy Backstrom is the film's guiding force, and Lassgard is a delight to watch as ever. The production values are better than ever, and Kjell Sundvall seems to have really grown as a director, crafting a well-polished and exciting thriller in which the stakes are never less than high. Unpredictable, involving, and harrowing, FALSE TRAIL is one to watch.

This movie should not be considered a sequel ,but the second part of the story released fifteen years before .If you are going to enjoy

"Jägarna 2",you have got to see the first effort first.

Even if Erik's brother is absent (and for a good reason) ,his shadows hangs over the whole movie:two brief flashbacks (the two brother's last hug;Leif's singing on the banks of the lake);the CD Erik gives to his nephew.

This is a thriller in disguise:the subject is the reconstruction of a family.Apparently,Peter,his mother Karin (scene of the dinner)and her new companion seem the perfect family.But cracks in the mirror will not be long in coming:Peter's hip is black and blue ,and during the funeral where he is supposed to sing ,a lump comes to his throat and tears flows on his face.

The killer's identity is known well before the ending ,but it does not matter.what's really absorbing is Erik's Relationship with Peter,his remorse "I did not do all that I could to save Leif.I knew our father treated him badly ".Like Torsten is doing with his "son" .Peter is a sensitive self-conscious tormented young man who longs for a father figure ,who wants to know more about this father who disappeared at such an early age in mysterious circumstances ,this father who,like him,loved singing -the second part sheds a new light on him,he was a criminal ,but a victim too.That's why the last sentence is such a relief for the viewer.

I find this second part even better than the first one ,more moving,more endearing .The forest landscapes are superbly filmed ,with an extraordinary sense of space ,and some scenes are so intense that the viewer feels like shouting "no!" ,particularly when Torsten treats Peter as a moving target.

Not to be missed,but definitely after watching the first episode .

Sundvall's movies often deal with the same theme: A lone person fighting against an evil establishment. Nevertheless, he always succeeds in making great movies. This movie, too, was very exciting and very intense. It was even more intense then Jägarna 1, its predecessor. The acting was first- rate. Especially Lassgård and Stormare did absolutely magnificent jobs.

The nature sceneries were great to watch, too, especially for me who have never yet seen that part of Sweden or Finland.

I'm most likely going to buy this one when it is (very soon) released on DVD and blu-ray.

I'm really beginning to dig these Swedish/Nordic/Icelandic crime thrillers more and more. At the outset, the stories seem relatively simple, but as the film goes on, and with all the twists and turns presented, you begin to realize all is not as it seems on the surface.

Overall, I found no fault with the acting. Everyone played their part as they should. Direction was spot on. If I had a complaint it was the movie drags in spots. The Swedish hinterlands were also captured vividly by the cinematographer - pristine lakes, deep green forestry, wide multicolored skies, etc. Kind of reminds me of the Pacific Northwest.