Synopsis
Rendel: Dark Vengeance is a 2017 Finnish action-superhero movie that was both written and directed by Jesse Haaja. It is notable for being Finland’s first fully fledged superhero film, and while it did not receive positive reviews from critics, developed a cult following for its attempts at creating a Nordic vigilante hero with realistic and dark comic book elements.
Set in a fictional Finnish city Mikkeli, Rendel tells the story of a masked vigilante who seeks to take vengeance on a notorious criminal syndicate known as VALA. The name Rendel, which means “order” in Hungarian gives insight into the hero’s wish of justice in a corrupt world.
The story starts with the rise of a multinational corporation VALA which has a controversial vaccine RD-9. The vaccine while marketed as a health breakthrough has not passed safety regulations in Europe. To skirt regulations, VALA sets up illegal production facilitates in Finland and bribes officials to gain influence in the area. VALA’s operations are led by Mr. Erola who is ruthless and flamboyant and as a result their business experiences an unparalleled growth for a time leaving crime and corruption in their wake.
We are also introduced to Rendel, a ruthless avenger who uses brutally thorough fighting techniques and wears a mask that offers no hint of identity. A cold-blooded Rendel was previously blessed with the name Aulis Mikkonen, an amiable employee at a little firm, which was, unfortunately, a feeder for VALA. After turning down their morally questionable overtures, Rendel becomes their dysfunctional target.
As expected, VALA retaliates by wiping out Aulis’s wife and child, leaving him very much broken. In grief, and out of rage, Rendel is born. His suffering steers him to build a mask, a suit of armor, and a vow to murder every villain he had previously faced. As is clear, Rendel does not share any common traits with traditional superheroes. He has no supernatural powers to aid him, only the ability to employ his guile, combat training, and sheer resolve.
As VALA attempts to deal with the threat posed through mercenaries, they are fuelled with exaggerated amounts of Aulis’s agile and brutal hand-to-hand confrontations, accompanied with a sequence of unimaginable explosions. Rendel begins slowly crossing the line stretch of seeking deeply rooted psychologically hidden justice, and vengeance. The single line turns into further horrific outcomes with extreme floods of violence accompanying them.
The film ends with a bloody battle between Rendel and VALA’s enforcers. While he emerges from the fight alive, he is not celebrated as a hero but rather feared as a figure of savage violence. The last scenes hint at possible sequels as Rendel disappears into the shadows once again—scarred but relentless.
Kris Gummerus as Rendel/Aulis Mikkonen
As Rendel, Gummerus captures a sulky intensity with a deeply physical portrayal that requires little dialogue. His transformation from a grieving man to a rabid vigilante is compelling, even if the film offers no explanation due to its lack of exposition.
Rami Rusinen as Mr. Erola
Rusinen brings unhinged enthusiasm and corporate arrogance to the performance of the central villain. Erola, the head of VALA, is a striking counterpart to Rendel’s silence because he exudes moral vacuity which serves as a scathing commentary for capitalism’s self-serving nature akin to comic book villains.
As Radek we have Renate Stuurman, Johnny Vivash is playing Clayton and Stacy will be played by Bianca Bradey.
In this cast we also find VALA’s international mercenary squad that brings further depth to Rendel – adding complexity. While not fully fleshed out in the film, they round out the antagonists and perform some of the more rehearsed fighting scenes in the movie and add depth.
Direction and Production
In the casting, we already met Jesse Haaja who directed the film and has previously worked as a commercial director. With a passion for comic books, he always imagined Rendel as a “Finnish” dark superhero film. This character comes from a comic book idea Haaja created years back, which made him self finance the initial stages of the film’s development before getting external investors.
The budget was extremely affordable, estimating from 1.5 to 2 million euros, which is considered low for a superhero movie. Regardless of the budget, Haaja creates a visually compelling film. The cinematography is masterfully done, with ominous dark cityscapes and moody lighting giving the film stylized violence. The action choreography is raw and fits the tone more of a revenge thriller rather than a superhero film, which makes it brutal.
Rendel’s costume design is one that needs to be highlighted. His mask and armor are not only imposing but also serve a purpose, resembling a cross between Batman’s tactical gear and a medieval knight’s armor. This look enhances Rendel’s ancient presence as a shadowy avenger.
Themes and Symbolism
Retribution Versus Justice
Rendel’s central theme revolves the distinction between vengeance and justice. Aulis becomes Rendel in order to pay back for his family and it places his honor into contention. What exactly is the cost of vengeance? Is he defending civilization or is he lost in the tempest of fury? The film does not present an uncomplicated solution and rather showcases a flawed anti-hero in Rendel, whose suffering propels him more than any moral obligation towards society.
Corporate Corruption and its Control
Unrestrained corporate avarice and the ethical boundaries of scientific advancement are encapsulated in VALA. The storyline of a toxic vaccine along with the hijacking of public organizations is a testament to the degree that profit-centric objectives can overshadow moral values. It also plays towards the anxiety created by transnational corporations operating beyond the boundaries of jurisdiction.
Identity and Changing
The metamorphosis of Rendel represents personal epitome of change. The death of his family does not only change his psychological condition, it also dissolves his identity as Aulis. He opts for a new form of identity, replacing healing with violence, violence with anonymity. The mask dominates him and is a sentiment of his strength while simultaneously showcasing his slavery.
Reception and Legacy
Rendel was met with mixed reception, where it was praised for its aesthetics and ambition, but critiqued for its poor dialogue, lacking characters, and predictable storyline. Despite the backlash, the film was well received by fans of the indie superhero genre garnering praise at numerous region-specific film festivals.
Its polarizing nature signifies the conflict between expectation versus execution. Alongside its debut polish, Rendel quickly became recognized as an achievement for Finland’s cinematic history. The film currently holds an IMDb average rating between 4.5 – 5.0/10.
Though the film is severely flawed, it’s cult like appeal allowed the production of a highly-anticipated sequel, Rendel 2: Cycle of Revenge. However, it’s production faced delays alongside changes in cast and crew, leaving the fate of the sequel uncertain.
Conclusion
Rendel is a gritty, superhero film with noir influences that seeks to stray from the typical comic book adaption. Its stance on moral complexities and haunting origins while maintaining its Finnish roots gives the film a remarkable uniqueness, placing it among the outliers in the superhero genre.
While the story does have gaps with respect to character development, the visuals, along with the passion infused into the project, makes it worth exploring, especially for those fond of dark vigilante stories. At its finest, Rendel serves as a testament that heroes can arise from anywhere, even the frigid, shadowy regions of northern Europe.
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