Big Game
Directed by Jalmari Helander
- action
- adventure
- thriller
- comedy
The story
Air Force One is shot down by terrorists, leaving the President of the United States stranded in the wilderness of Finland. 13-year-old Oskari is on a hunting mission to prove his maturity to his kinsfolk by tracking down a deer, but instead discovers the President in an escape pod. With the terrorists closing in to capture their prize, the unlikely duo team up to escape their hunters.
What it’s like
Bright, snowy Finnish wilderness under flat winter daylight, with wide landscape shots of pine forest, frozen lakes and rough rural cabins that feel more lived-in than glamorous. The palette is cold blues and whites broken by orange parkas, fire glow and sudden blasts of explosion, and the camera moves with lively, energetic handheld coverage during chases and falls into easy, steady framing when the boy and the president are simply talking in the snow. The score is driven by bouncy, cheerful orchestral and synth-tinged action cues that keep the mood buoyant even when things blow up. Vibe: cheeky, sincere, adventurous, with a warm sense of absurdity. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night with older kids, or a light watch when you want something fun and a little silly. Pacing is brisk and episodic, the arc follows a restless teenager gaining confidence beside an unlikely, rattled older partner. Intensity is moderate: a steady stream of gunfights, explosions and cartoonish peril, with some bloodless but firm action violence and no sexual content. For people who want action-comedy with heart and a playful, unpretentious edge.
More films like Big Game
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Big Game and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
