Rendel: Dark Vengeance is a ruthless Finnish superhero film directed by Jesse Haaja, focusing on a masked vigilante who battles with his demons of tragedy while trying to annihilate corruption. The film was released in 2017, giving it the title of being the first Finnish superhero movie and simultaneously providing a new dark twist to the age old narrative of the single hero who fights against seemingly unbeatable odds. Rendel is an assemblage of noir and action along with moral depths, making it a one-of-a-kind movie with its focus on primarily the raw emotions and action.
Synopsis
The narrative unfolds in Mikkeli, a desolate and crime-stricken city in Finland, commanded by VALA, a huge pharmaceutical company directed by the heartless Eero Lahtinen (Matti Onnismaa). VALA’s main target is to sell untested vaccines, Nh25, in developing countries. The corporation uses brutal methods to silence and enforce loyalty.
At the core of the plot is the masked vigilante, Rendel (Kris Gummerus) seeking vengeance. Rendel is an alter ego of Rämö who was once a family man, living his life until the VALA targeted his loved ones. Now, he is filled with anger and grief, transforming into Rendel and seeking to bring justice upon the leader of VALA.
As Rendel wages a terrible war against VALA, he is forced to do battle with sadist Rotikka (Rami Rusinen), VALA’s number one enforcer, along with various other foes in an out-of-control conflict. However, Rendel’s obsessive desire for revenge is difficult for him to contain, as he is forced to confront how revenge is starting to wear down his body and mind. It slowly becomes clear for Rendel that he is far from all right. The film builds to a confrontation where Rendel must fight a multitude of enemies – both external and internal – against a background of overpowering corruption. In the end, an equilibrium is achieved, but it is clear that this is only the beginning for our dark avenger.
Character Profiles
Rendel / Rämö (Kris Gummerus)
As in all editions of the film, Rendel is the most conflicted character. Rämö was a loving husband and father, but his life dramatically changed after VALA succeeded in murdering his family. The overwhelming guilt from this new reality shifts Rendel into a masked vigilante who walks the line between savior and sinner. What most sets Rendel apart is not just its cool premise, but the insight it gives for the psyche of a tortured soul. It is at this point where Gummerus comes into play, as he carries the burden of depicting Rendel as a man whose thirst for vengeance overwhelms his morals and values.
Eero Lahtinen (Matti Onnismaa) Eero is the calculating tycoon in charge of VALA. His cold demeanor and cut-throat tactics make him an explosive villain. He is a man who stands by profit and not ethics. Matti Onnismaa brings a chilling gravitas to the role and is remorselessly involved in the corporate subsector.
Rotikka (Rami Rusinen) Rotikka is VALA’s sadistic henchman, who revels in torment, which makes him an important in the company. He takes joy in violence as he serves as a physical and psychological counterpart to Rendel. Rami Rusinen’s commanding performance makes Rotikka a memorably brutal adversary.
Supporting Cast A number of supporting characters are featured in the film, such as those who support Rendel in his missions and includes those V A L A operatives who are simply cannon fodder to the vigilante’s wrath. These characters show a different side to the world of Rendel, which adds depth and adds more stakes too.
Themes Revenge and Justice At its core, Rendel is about the thin line that separates revenge from justice. Rendel’s deeds stem from personal loss, however, his extreme approach raises the question does Rendel seek vengeance or good in the end.
Power and Corruption
In this case, the VALA Corporation may be viewed as an example the worst that unrestricted capitalism has to offer. The company’s inhuman treatment of people poorly illustrates to what lengths an endeavor is willing to go to maximize profits.
The Price of Revenge
In Rendel, the protagonist’s desire for vengeance comes at a high cost: mental anguish. The film is an exploration of how a man becomes emotionally detached from everything and painful sacrifices he has to make in his war against evil and the toll it takes on a person.
Visuals and Writing
Rendel is somewhat shrouded in mystery, which is further enhanced by the film’s dark colors and genetics from the protagonist’s life, of which he has none. Low key lighting and color palettes are heavily used in the film. The terrorist attack Rendel fights against is extremely realistic and contains entire battles. Rendel is so skillful in wishing the violence that one wonders what it costs him physically.
Rähmø’s past life is woven in between his present, first in chronological order, but later more chaotically. This allows the viewers to grasp the severity of his motivation and the struggles behind it all.
Performances and Direction
Jesse Haaja demonstrates assurance in his first film by skillfully directing a strikingly different action image within the world of superheroes. This becomes evident by the fact that Rendel is more than just a visual treat; with different pauses from great action comes deep introspection.
The film’s anchor, Kris Gummerus, creates a multi-faceted character who does more talking through his actions. He delivers a masterclass performance that raises the stakes in a story while still alongside Rami Rusinen, who portrays Rotikka. All the secondary actors match the intensity of the primary cast and deepen the tense atmosphere of the film.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The movie Rendel benefits from cultivating an atmosphere while building his world. The film embraces the unrefined texture its hero possesses and has abandoned polish found across the gamut of Hollywood superhero films. With this, it possesses a sense of distinction. The action is raw and engaging and the general core of the story feels solid.
Nonetheless, the audience might get confused because of the heavy reliance on genre tropes. The film fails to fully develop certain characters and the plot delves into deeply flawed pacing, specifically towards the middle act. Furthermore, while the character of Rendel is fascinating, his internal solitude doesn’t quite allow the audience to fully connect with his character.
Conclusion
Here is a bold and captivating undertaking in the superhero genre due to the rich cultural background and the weight of the moral issues it brings together. Rendel: Dark Vengeance’s exploration is rife with challenges but his mask and cape aesthetics, coupled with the edgy action and the deeply touching scenes, rounded up the experience perfectly.
Vigilantes are seldom portrayed as sympathetic characters and Finland’s first superhero movie bases its concept on a storyline that showcases Rendel being fiercely consumed by his desire for revenge. This novel foray into dark Finnish superhero culture sets the tone for engaging adventures like The Dark Knight and The Punisher. This first generation superhero anchor goes beyond Rendel himself and offers a lot of prospects for sequels.
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