Genre: crime

Published: April 14, 2025

Love Lies Bleeding

Lou is the manager of a rundown gym in a shabby small town in New Mexico in 1989. Her life is mostly a series of failures and misery. But when an energetic fitness competitor named Jackie arrives in town — radiating that adorably cheesy ‘80s charm — everything changes. Lou sets her sights on Jackie. The two women quickly bond and, of course, end up in bed together. Lou suggests Jackie try steroids, saying “everyone’s using them anyway,” and Jackie ends up getting a little too enthusiastic about the juice.

Jackie, who gets a job working for Lou’s father — a criminal hiding his shady dealings behind a shooting range — gets entangled in the family’s life when Lou’s sister Beth is abused by her husband J.J. Jackie has her eyes set on winning a bodybuilding competition in Las Vegas by any means necessary, but the events she sets in motion unleash an unstoppable avalanche that crushes Lou’s father and the rest of the family. Tensions escalate into violent confrontations and bloody complications.

Published: January 31, 2025

Joker: Folie à Deux

The Joker, who once incited anarchy, has once again been crushed by his circumstances and society, reverting to Arthur Fleck. Still imprisoned in Arkham Asylum, he awaits his trial. Yet, deep inside, a small spark remains—a spark that finds glimpses of beauty even in the harsh routines of the asylum. That spark ignites, quite literally, when he happens to meet Lee Quinzel (Harleen Quinn) during a visit to the lower-security wing of the institution. These two unhinged souls quickly form a deep connection, one that also draws them into the embrace of music. But as their love grows, it inevitably becomes a problem. Is it truly the flame of love, or merely an uncontrollable wildfire?

Published: January 16, 2025

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Mike and Marcus, the bad boys of Miami, haven’t been entirely stuck in one place, as family life has brought changes, and the challenges of aging are catching up with everyone. Mike is finally getting married, but during the wedding festivities, Marcus suffers a heart attack and experiences a spiritual awakening. Meanwhile, the memory of their former police chief, Howard, who died in the previous film, still casts a shadow over everything.
When mysterious criminals begin tarnishing Howard’s reputation by framing him as a hub of corruption, Mike and Marcus are left with no choice but to clear their former chief’s name (and their own in the process) and bring the real culprits to justice. They receive help from an unexpected source when Howard posthumously sends a message to Mike and Marcus. Little do they know what kind of hornet’s nest they’re walking into, as soon their families are also caught up in the mess.

Published: December 23, 2024

Marraskuun harmaa valo

A man attempting a bank robbery flees to a large hotel located in the center of Tallinn. In the process, he has accidentally killed a bank clerk and forces his way into the room of a Finnish businessman—a cynical and disillusioned man dissatisfied with his life. After the situation calms down, the businessman’s wife tries to persuade him to return to Finland, fearing the situation will end badly for him. However, the businessman chooses to stay in Tallinn and begins a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the local police and the mafia, who also become entangled in the events.

Published: November 19, 2024

Jumalia ei uhmata

Defying the Gods continues the popular series of Chief Inspector Hanhivaara adaptations. A well-known Finnish man is found murdered at a popular Sicilian holiday resort, and a Finnish police officer already on site begins investigating the case independently. The investigation shifts from Sicily to Finland, taking increasingly complex turns. (Source: VLMedia)

Published: November 19, 2024

Isku vasten kasvoja

An Olympic champion is found murdered. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that one by one, people harbored grudges against a former national hero. The victim’s widow becomes all too familiar to Hanhivaara… (Source: VLMedia)

Published: November 19, 2024

Isku suoneen

Isku Suoneen (Blow to the Vein) is a crime series directed by Anssi Mänttäri, based on Pentti Kirstilä’s novel. The series follows Chief Inspector Hanhivaara’s battle against drug-related crimes. A large shipment of heroin arrives in Finland, prompting Hanhivaara to launch an investigation. Even the criminals seem on edge as the smuggling operation escalates, and bodies begin to pile up. The exhausting investigation starts to take a toll on Hanhivaara’s personal life as well.

Published: November 18, 2024

Damaged

Damaged is a crime drama and thriller film starring Samuel L. Jackson as Chicago detective Dan Lawson. He is called to Scotland to investigate a brutal string of murders with methods eerily similar to a case he worked on five years earlier. Teaming up with local detective Walter Bravo (Vincent Cassel), Lawson is forced to confront harrowing secrets as the murder cases intertwine with increasingly personal threats.

The film combines intense crime investigation with psychological suspense, set against the dark landscapes of Scotland.

Published: October 14, 2024

Calvary

Irish drama film directed and written by John Michael McDonagh. The film is known for its profound themes, dark humor, and strong performances. Calvary explores deep subjects such as faith, forgiveness, guilt, and the meaning of life. The title refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the place where Jesus was crucified, which emphasizes its symbolism of sacrifice and suffering.

The film also addresses scandals within the Catholic Church and their impact on communities, particularly cases of clerical abuse. These themes, however, are handled subtly, and the story focuses more on personal soul-searching and the complexities of human relationships.

Calvary tells the story of Father James Lavelle, a Catholic priest working in a small Irish village. One day in the confessional, someone threatens to kill him in a week’s time. This person does not want revenge for James’s sins but for the past wrongdoings of the Catholic Church. Under the shadow of this death threat, Father James tries to carry on with his life and help the villagers, though his own faith and purpose are put to the test. The film focuses on Father James’s journey toward his potential fate and the moral choices he faces along the way.

Published: August 21, 2024

Laitakaupungin valot

In the modern industrial setting of Ruoholahti, Koistinen (Janne Hyytiäinen), a lonely man working as a night watchman, is relentlessly bullied by his coworkers. He dreams of starting his own business and shares this aspiration with Aila (Maria Heiskanen), who runs a sausage stand by the waterfront. Unbeknownst to Koistinen, Aila harbors deeper feelings for him.

One day, Koistinen meets Mirja (Maria Järvenhelmi), who is secretly working for the criminal boss Lindström (Ilkka Koivula). Mirja pretends to be infatuated with Koistinen, but at the opportune moment, she drugs him and steals his keyring to assist Lindström and his gang in robbing a diamond store. Koistinen refuses to implicate Mirja and is sentenced to two years in prison.

After his release, Koistinen tries to rebuild his life from almost nothing. By chance, he encounters Mirja and Lindström in a restaurant. Seeking revenge for the betrayal, he later attacks Lindström with a knife, but is subdued by the gangster’s henchmen. Lindström spares his life, though Koistinen is beaten nearly to death and left on the shore. Aila hears of his condition and finds him, bloodied and lying on the ground. ‘I won’t die from this,’ Koistinen promises her as their hands meet for the first time. (Text by Lauri Timonen)

Director:
Aki Kaurismäki

Starring:
Janne Hyytiäinen
Maria Järvenhelmi
Maria Heiskanen
Ilkka Koivula

The film won the 2007 Jussi Awards for Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Set Design.

Available on DVD (not Blu-ray).