Johan Falk: National Target (Video 2009)

Director:

Richard Holm

Writers:

Björn Carlström (screenplay), Anders Nilsson (concept),

Stars:

Jakob Eklund, Joel Kinnaman, Samuli Edelmann

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jakob Eklund	...	Johan Falk
Joel Kinnaman	...	Frank Wagner
Samuli Edelmann	...	Mikhael Stukalov
Jacqueline Ramel	...	Anja Månsdottir
Anastasios Soulis	...	Felix Rydell
Ruth Vega Fernandez	...	Marie
Maksim Lapitskii	...	Pieter Ivanov (as Max Lapitskij)
Meliz Karlge	...	Sophie Nordh
Mikael Tornving	...	Patrik Agrell
Jens Hultén	...	Seth Rydell
André Sjöberg	...	Dick Jörgensen
Henrik Norlén	...	Lasse Karlsson
Lars G. Svensson	...	Lennart Jägerström
Marko Matvere	...	Raivo
Robin Stegmar	...	Tändstickan

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

garage | tram | organized crime | cell phone | drug deal | 

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish English

Release Date:

7 October 2009 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

GSI - Spezialeinheit Göteborg: Im Fadenkreuz

Filming Locations:

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows Zero Tolerance (1999)

User Reviews

Average thriller in the Johan Falk series

Recap: Johan Falk and Frank Wagner is back again, this time on their most dangerous mission yet. This time Johan Falk wants to capture the men behind a drug smuggling operation, but their last contact was executed. Frank needs to go deeper undercover than ever, in the midst of an organization that are totally ruthless. And there are leaks both within the police and Wagner's gang.

Comments: Another one in the Johan Falk series, this time about Estonian smugglers that has a big time operation smuggling amphetamine to Gothenburg. But even if the story is different (and it helps to watch them in order, so if you are new to the series, start with Noll Tolerans (1999) or at least the restart of the series GSI – Gruppen för särskilda insatser (2009) as some things are just a continuation) they use the same strengths that they have in the previous movies. They are good on building suspense, but worse at special effects. The simple solution is to leave the effects out of it, and aim for suspense.

In total it is an average thriller one that works well for an evening. Compared to the previous movies in the series it got nothing new, and that is a little disappointment. Even though they have found a somewhat successful recipe for these movies, some kind of development other than a new story would be nice. It could almost be anything, some spectacular effect or a twist to the now predictable pace and outcome of the story. That's what made Den Tredje Vågen (2003) rise another level. But these are really just mass produced. I understand that leads to it being hard to develop something new between movies, but the feeling while watching is there anyway.

However, as I said, it works well enough as a thriller to watch for an evening, and it still is one of the better Swedish movies of the genre (along with the rest of the series).

6/10