Hubbry Logo
Kill BuljoKill BuljoMain
Open search
Kill Buljo
Community hub
Kill Buljo
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Kill Buljo
Kill Buljo
Kill Buljo
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
Kill Buljo
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTommy Wirkola
Written byStig Frode Henriksen
Tommy Wirkola
Produced byTerje Strømstad
StarringStig Frode Henriksen
Natasha Angel Dahle
Tommy Wirkola
Linda Øverli Nilsen
Martin Hykkerud
Frank Arne Olsen
CinematographyOdd Helge Haugsnes
Matt Weston
Edited byTommy Wirkola
Music byKjell Rune Myrland
Petter Carlsen
Distributed byOro Film
Release date
  • 23 March 2007 (2007-03-23)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryNorway
LanguagesNorwegian
Northern Sami
BudgetNOK 890,000[1]
Box office$1 million[2]

Kill Buljo is a 2007 Norwegian black comedy film directed by Tommy Wirkola. It parodies the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill. It is set in Finnmark, Norway and portrays the protagonist Jompa Tormann's hunt for Tampa and Papa Buljo. The film depends heavily on satirizing stereotypes about Norway's Sami population.

According to the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, Tarantino watched the film's trailer and was quite happy about it, looking forward to seeing the film itself.[3]

A sequel, Kill Buljo 2, was released on 20 December 2013.

Plot

[edit]

Jompa Tormann is reluctantly on his way into marriage. The bride's family is gathered at the traditional engagement coffee at the Kautokeino community centre when the Deadly Sapmi Assassination Squad, consisting of Tampa Buljo, Crazy Beibifeit, Dr. Kjell Driver and Bud Light assault the premises, draw guns, and fire on anything that moves. Nobody is supposed to leave the centre alive, but Jompa miraculously survives and falls into a deep coma.

The Sami- and woman-hating police inspector Sid Wisløff is assigned to the case together with his assistant Unni Formen. Wisløff is confident that Jompa Tormann killed all his guests, finishing the act by shooting his own head four times to look innocent.

A few weeks later, Jompa awakens, and begins to seek revenge. He has a Katana forged for him by the legendary Bladesmith, Fugioshi Shinaga and sets out. He tracks down the members of The Deadly Sapmi Assassination Squad and settles his business with them one by one. Sid Wisløff and Unni Formen, aided by the Sami pathfinder Peggy Mathilassi, are on his heels to put him behind bars.

Production

[edit]

The film was shot for 890,000 NOK,[4] or US$106,000.

Reception

[edit]

The reception was mixed, with NRK P3 giving it 3/6 stars.[5]

Home video

[edit]

The film sold over 95,000 copies on home video.[6]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kill Buljo

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is a Norwegian written and directed by in his feature debut. The parodies Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill through exaggerated violence, revenge motifs, and stylistic homages, set against the backdrop of rural in . Starring Frode Henriksen as the Jompa Tormann, alongside Wirkola in a supporting role, it follows Jompa's survival of a brutal at his engagement party and his subsequent pursuit of vengeance against the Papa Buljo and his mercenaries. Released on March 23, 2007, in , the low-budget production garnered a for its irreverent humor, over-the-top action sequences, and incorporation of local Sami cultural elements amid the chaos of gunfights and absurdity. With a runtime of 93 minutes and an user rating of 5.7/10 from over 4,000 votes, it highlights Wirkola's early flair for genre blending that later propelled him to direct films like (2009). The narrative unfolds in Kautokeino, emphasizing themes of retribution in a remote, snowy landscape, complete with fake blood, profanity, and satirical jabs at action tropes. While not achieving widespread international acclaim, Kill Buljo earned praise from Tarantino himself for its execution and has been noted for launching Wirkola's career in horror-comedy hybrids. Its unapologetic depiction of graphic content and niche appeal distinguish it as a staple in Norwegian cinema, influencing perceptions of Scandinavian filmmaking beyond mainstream exports.

Synopsis

Plot Summary

Kill Buljo follows Jompa Tormann, a Sami man in , , whose engagement party in Karasjok turns into a when the , led by Tampa Buljo, storms the event and guns down his fiancée Kurdo, family, and guests. Jompa himself is shot multiple times but survives, awakening in a months later after being buried under the bodies. Determined for , he embarks on a quest to hunt down the assassins of the Deadly Sapmi Assassination Squad, starting with individual confrontations that tropes. The narrative unfolds in episodic chapters mirroring the structure of Kill Bill, incorporating Sami cultural elements such as singing and traditional settings into over-the-top action sequences, including pursuits through snowy landscapes and encounters with quirky antagonists like a one-eyed assassin and a corrupt , Sid Wisløff. Jompa allies with figures like the shaman Noajdi and receives aid from allies, building toward a climactic showdown in the remote wilderness of against Tampa Buljo and the clan leader Papa Buljo. The film features stylistic homages, such as animated sequences depicting backstory violence in fashion, culminating in Jompa's bloody retribution.

Production

Development

Tommy Wirkola, a Norwegian filmmaker born in Alta in 1979 with Finnish-Sámi heritage, conceived Kill Buljo as a direct parody of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films, reimagining the revenge narrative within a hyper-stylized Norwegian setting infused with Sámi cultural elements and local stereotypes. Wirkola, who had studied media at the University of and film at the University of before briefly attending in , drew from his northern Norwegian roots to craft a script that blended Tarantino-esque violence and aesthetics with indigenous motifs, aiming for a trashy, anti-romantic portrayal of Sámi life. The script was co-written by Wirkola alongside friends and collaborators, including Stig Frode Henriksen, during the mid-2000s as Wirkola's feature debut project under their production banner Yellow Bastard Productions. Initially self-financed on a shoestring budget through personal contributions and local support, the development emphasized guerrilla-style indie filmmaking, relying on a network of amateur and semi-professional talent rather than established industry backing. This approach reflected Wirkola's early vision of accessible, culturally specific genre parody unbound by conventional production constraints. Pre-production faced logistical hurdles inherent to the film's remote setting, including securing snowy, rugged locations in Alta and surrounding areas during harsh conditions, which complicated scouting and permitting without significant funding. The team assembled a predominantly cast drawn from local theater backgrounds and personal connections, prioritizing and regional authenticity over , which necessitated extensive and on-the-fly adjustments to compensate for limited resources. These challenges underscored the project's DIY ethos, fostering a raw, unpolished energy that defined its low-budget origins.

Filming and Post-Production

Principal photography for Kill Buljo occurred from November 19, 2006, to January 3, 2007, primarily in Alta, , . This northern location, part of the Sami indigenous region, provided authentic backdrops for the film's of local stereotypes, with scenes set in and around Kautokeino. The production's low budget constrained resources, fostering improvised approaches to action sequences that amplified the film's unrefined, high-energy aesthetic. Harsh winter weather in , including snow and sub-zero temperatures typical of the period, posed logistical hurdles for the small crew, yet contributed to the raw visual style mimicking gritty exploitation cinema. Director Tommy Wirkola's hands-on role in writing, directing, producing, and starring necessitated guerrilla-like efficiency, relying on minimal equipment and local talent to execute chase and fight scenes on limited means. Post-production emphasized in-house and work to complete the film ahead of its March 2007 . incorporated amplified, cartoonish effects for comedic violence, while remained sparse to preserve the DIY ethos and avoid over-polishing the parody's chaotic tone. The process leveraged profits from prior shorts to fund basic tools, underscoring the independent, bootstrapped nature of the endeavor.

Cast and Crew

Principal Cast

Stig Frode Henriksen portrayed Jompa Tormann, the Sami protagonist driven by after his wedding party . Linda Øverlie Nilsen played his fiancée Peggy Mathilassi, whose death fuels the central vendetta. Frank Arne Olsen embodied the villainous Papa Buljo, leader of the rival clan responsible for the initial slaughter. Director took the role of Sid Wisløff, a comically inept Sami-hating aiding the pursuit.
ActorRole
Stig Frode HenriksenJompa Tormann
Linda Øverlie NilsenPeggy Mathilassi
Frank Arne OlsenPapa Buljo
Sid Wisløff
Supporting roles, including assassins like Unni Formen (Natasha Angel Dahle) and clan members, were cast from Wirkola's personal network of friends and local theater performers, prioritizing raw enthusiasm and familiarity with the satirical material over extensive professional experience. This approach yielded committed, unrefined portrayals that amplified the film's low-budget aesthetic, with the ensemble's chemistry stemming from pre-existing relationships among the filmmakers.

Key Crew Members

Tommy Wirkola directed Kill Buljo, marking his feature film debut after working on short films that honed his satirical approach to genre parody. He also co-wrote the with Stig Frode Henriksen and handled editing duties, enabling a unified vision that blended Kill Bill-style revenge narrative with Norwegian cultural specifics set in the region. The screenplay by Wirkola and Henriksen incorporated elements of local Sami-inspired humor and rural Norwegian dynamics to subvert Tarantino-esque tropes, creating a cohesive framework. Henriksen, who also starred as the Jompa Tormann, contributed to scripting the film's absurd action sequences and character archetypes. was shared by Odd Helge Haugsnes and Matthew Weston, whose combined efforts produced a raw, handheld visual style that evoked the gritty aesthetics of 1970s exploitation cinema, enhancing the film's parodic homage to low-budget action flicks. Wirkola's further amplified this by maintaining a fast-paced, chaotic rhythm aligned with the script's satirical intent.

Style and Themes

Parodic Elements

The film Kill Buljo structures its narrative into twelve chapters, mimicking the segmented, non-linear format employed in Tarantino's Kill Bill volumes to heighten dramatic tension through episodic reveals. This device allows for exaggerated comedic beats amid the revenge-driven plot, where Jompa Tormann pursues vengeance against Papa Buljo following the death of his fiancée Unni, directly lampooning the vendetta central to Kill Bill's storyline of The Bride's rampage. Stylistic homages extend to Tarantino's visual flair, with over-the-top slow-motion depictions of and sequences that amplify gore and for humorous absurdity rather than realism. Absurd weaponry, including improvised and comically impractical tools suited to the low-budget production, underscores the spoofing of hyper-violent action tropes, transforming high-stakes fights into farcical spectacles. The inclusion of anime-style interludes further nods to Kill Bill's animated segments, repurposed here to inject surreal, low-fi into the chaos for satirical effect. Beyond Kill Bill, the movie parodies elements from other action and thriller genres, such as James Bond-style henchmen exemplified by Blow Job, Papa Buljo's imposing bodyguard whose name and tough persona evoke villainous subordinates like Oddjob in Goldfinger. Narrative gags draw from The Shining, spoofing iconic horror moments like the axe confrontation to blend slasher tension with slapstick resolution. These references culminate in broader exaggerations of adventure-action set pieces, akin to Tomb Raider's acrobatic exploits, rendered through rudimentary chases and gadgetry that prioritize humor over plausibility.

Cultural Satire and Representation

Kill Buljo employs exaggerated depictions of rural Norwegian "" archetypes and Sami lavvu-dwelling customs to lampoon conventional media portrayals of , presenting these elements as grotesque, self-mocking caricatures rooted in regional oral humor traditions. Director , raised in Alta in county, crafts these satires from an insider perspective, amplifying stereotypes like boisterous Sami wedding feasts disrupted by violence to underscore the absurdity of romanticized indigenous imagery. This approach deliberately counters polished northern narratives with trashy, anti-romantic flair, as seen in sequences parodying Sami guide tropes and lawless life in lavvus turned into battlegrounds. The inclusion of actors with local ties, such as Stig Frode Henriksen as the Sami protagonist Jompa Tormann—a vengeful everyman navigating mercenary ambushes—integrates authentic regional input to subvert clichés of passive or exoticized Sami figures. Henriksen's familial connections to Sami filmmaker Nils Gaup further embed production in northern networks, fostering collaborative mockery of outsider expectations like reindeer-herding mysticism repurposed into action-comedy excess. This local casting counters exploitation narratives by prioritizing performers familiar with the depicted dynamics, evident in the film's Finnmark-shot scenes blending interiors with Tarantino-esque gore for hyperbolic effect. Proponents of the film's view it as empowering reclamation, where northern creators "kick from below" through ridicule, transforming burdensome into liberation akin to longstanding raunchy local forms. Conversely, analyses note the risk that such insider exaggerations, while cathartic domestically, could reinforce external perceptions of indigenous disorder when divorced from , though the film's lowbrow intent prioritizes causal disruption of pieties over endorsement. Empirical production details, including a budget of approximately 890,000 Norwegian kroner enabling grassroots involvement from talent, underscore this as regionally driven hyperbole rather than detached caricature. No widespread backlash from Sami communities materialized, aligning with the parody's alignment to self-deprecating northern humor.

Release

Premiere and Distribution

Kill Buljo had its world premiere screening at the Tromsø International Film Festival in January 2007, where tickets sold out rapidly upon release. The film then received a limited theatrical release in Norway on March 23, 2007, distributed domestically by Oro Film. This rollout targeted niche audiences familiar with Quentin Tarantino's style, positioning the low-budget production as a direct parody of Kill Bill to leverage cult interest in over-the-top action and revenge narratives. Internationally, distribution rights were handled by sales agent Worldwide, which secured deals in 26 territories shortly after the Norwegian release. Notable pickups included for the , , and , facilitating festival screenings and limited theatrical runs aimed at genre enthusiasts. Marketing efforts emphasized the film's absurd humor, homemade aesthetic, and northern Norwegian setting to appeal to fans of Tarantino's films, with promotional trailers featuring dubbed English versions to highlight the elements.

Home Media Release

The DVD edition of Kill Buljo was released in in 2007, following its theatrical debut earlier that year, featuring special features such as director Tommy Wirkola's audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes including a 46-minute making-of segment titled "The Beginning," deleted scenes, bloopers, and trailers. An extended edition on dual-DVD format provided additional content to enhance viewer engagement with the film's low-budget production process. International home video distribution expanded through sales of rights to 26 territories by distributor Worldwide, facilitating subtitled releases that broadened accessibility beyond and supported subtitle options in multiple languages for global audiences. While no dedicated Blu-ray edition for the original film materialized, streaming availability emerged on platforms such as in select regions and internationally, contributing to ongoing niche viewership without achieving widespread mainstream penetration. These home media formats helped maintain the film's appeal among parody enthusiasts, with international rights deals signaling sustained demand in specialty markets despite its modest production scale of approximately 1.3 million.

Reception

Critical Response

Critical reception to Kill Buljo was generally mixed among the limited professional reviews available, with praise centered on its audacious of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill volumes and its irreverent humor, tempered by criticisms of inconsistent gag execution and evident low-budget constraints. The film garnered a 40% Tomatometer score on from two aggregated reviews, reflecting this divide. Reviewers lauded the film's inventive take on action tropes, particularly its over-the-top of narratives set against a Norwegian Sami backdrop, which amplified the absurdity through cultural stereotypes played for comedic effect rather than endorsement. called it "wickedly funny, funnier than it should be," emphasizing its brim-full that lands effective jokes amid the chaos. Similarly, one critic noted it delivers "more flare, fake blood, and far more laughs than expected" in its larger-than-life journey. These commendations underscore the intentional satirical exaggeration, where offensive elements serve the 's self-aware mockery, not literal advocacy, distinguishing it from genuine . Conversely, detractors highlighted technical shortcomings and narrative unevenness, with gags varying from sharp to juvenile and reliant on crude, below-the-belt humor that occasionally undermines the momentum. A on notreCinema rated it 3/5, observing that while some scenes provoke genuine laughter, others feel "astonishingly stupid," contributing to a patchy overall experience. Exclaim! acknowledged director Tommy Wirkola's competent Tarantino mimicry but faulted the absence of an original voice, suggesting the imitation, while passable, lacks depth beyond surface-level spoofing. Norwegian critics and outlets appreciated the film's local flavor and bold northern absurdity, viewing it as a fresh, homegrown riff on Hollywood excess that resonates with domestic audiences familiar with the cultural references. International responses, however, often framed it as niche with limited crossover appeal, better suited to fans of low-fi parodies than broad arthouse or mainstream viewers.

Audience and Commercial Performance

Kill Buljo grossed $1,098,618 in , representing its primary market performance following its March 23, 2007, release. Produced on a budget of 890,000 (approximately $140,000 USD at contemporary exchange rates), the film generated a substantial return, exceeding production costs by over sevenfold in dollar terms. This outcome underscored its viability as a low-budget venture, with earnings driven by domestic theatrical runs rather than wide international distribution. Audience metrics indicate polarized yet loyal engagement, with IMDb user ratings averaging 5.7 out of 10 from 4,336 votes as of recent data. Viewers frequently highlighted the film's high-energy style and memorable in informal feedback, contributing to repeat viewings among niche enthusiasts. The picture cultivated a in through grassroots word-of-mouth, particularly post-festival screenings, rather than mainstream blockbuster appeal. Commercial longevity extended beyond theaters via home media and ancillary markets, where sustained interest supported sales in 26 international territories. This distribution footprint amplified its reach among global fans, prioritizing cult endurance over immediate high-volume earnings. Overall, performance metrics reflect a profile typical of independent : profitable on limited scale, with audience retention fueling niche profitability.

Legacy and Impact

Career Influence

(2007) served as a pivotal debut for director , marking his entry into feature filmmaking with a low-budget produced for approximately €112,600 that achieved international sales to 26 territories—an unusual feat for an independent Norwegian comedy. This commercial breakthrough demonstrated the viability of Norwegian indie horror-comedy hybrids outside traditional public funding systems, enabling Wirkola to secure resources for (2009), a that expanded his genre-blending approach and garnered , culminating in his major studio directorial debut with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013). The film's collaborative circle also propelled actors into sustained roles in Norwegian genre projects. Vegar Hoel, part of the post-Kill Buljo network, starred as the lead in Dead Snow (2009) and co-wrote its sequel Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead (2014), before directing Kill Buljo 2 (2013) himself, evidencing how the original's recognition fostered ongoing opportunities in horror-comedy production. Empirical markers of this influence include the shift from Kill Buljo's self-financed model to budgeted sequels and cross-collaborations, reflecting heightened industry acknowledgment of indie parody's potential in Norway's film ecosystem.

Sequel and Cultural Resonance

Kill Buljo 2, released on February 22, 2013, serves as the direct sequel to the original film, continuing the parody of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill with an escalated focus on absurd violence and low-budget humor. Directed by Geir Vegar Hoel and featuring returning cast members such as Stig Frode Henriksen as Jompa Tormann, as Sid Wisløff, and as Anniken Skaiwalker, the plot follows Jompa's ongoing vendetta in a Sami cultural setting, amplifying the original's satirical elements with added cameos and sight gags. The film maintained the collaborative spirit of the first, with Wirkola and Henriksen contributing to the screenplay alongside Hoel. Reception for the sequel mirrored the mixed response to its predecessor, earning a 5.1/10 rating on from over 1,000 users and criticism for diminishing comedic returns and reliance on offensive stereotypes, though some praised its unpretentious excess within Norway's indie comedy niche. Commercially, it attracted 77,851 admissions in , generating approximately $1.86 million in box office revenue, indicating sustained domestic interest despite the original's cult status. In the Norwegian indie cinema landscape, Kill Buljo and its sequel have fostered niche resonance through their unapologetic parody of Hollywood tropes, influencing subsequent low-budget satires by emphasizing DIY production and regional humor rooted in Sami and northern Norwegian identity. While global impact remains limited, with no widespread international distribution for the sequel akin to the original's 26-territory sales, the films sustain appreciation via festival screenings and online recommendations in Scandinavian circles, evidenced by consistent mentions in lists of Norwegian cult comedies. This enduring draw counters narratives of rapid obsolescence, supported by the sequel's respectable attendance relative to similar indie releases, though broader cultural memes or viral phenomena tied specifically to the franchise are absent from major records.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0913401/
  2. https://cineuropa.org/en/film/89089/
  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0913401/plotsummary/
  4. https://letterboxd.com/film/kill-buljo-2007/
  5. https://www.ebay.com/itm/293654552027
  6. https://filmthreat.com/reviews/kill-buljo/
  7. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/17285-kill-buljo?language=en-US
  8. https://www.netflix.com/title/70117205
  9. https://www.dailyscandinavian.com/cross-boarding-norwegian-film-directors/
  10. https://www.talentnorge.no/programmene/artex-english/meet-the-mentors/
  11. https://variety.com/2007/film/news/weinstein-co-acquires-kill-buljo-1117975848/
  12. https://www.awn.com/films?amp%253Bamp%253Bamp%253Bamp%253Bpage=626&page%25253D5=&page=743
  13. https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0913401/
  14. https://zombieresearchsociety.com/archives/25981
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0913401/fullcredits/
  16. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/17285-kill-buljo/cast
  17. https://www.blackforestmag.com/2014/03/11/the-nazi-zombies-of-the-norwegian-splatter-dead-snow-are-back/
  18. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/76927-tommy-wirkola
  19. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0913401/fullcredits
  20. https://forum.icmforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5916
  21. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/films-on-ice/arctic-carnivalesque-ethnicity-gender-and-transnationality-in-the-films-of-tommy-wirkola/88D4E823A403BA00381C1B53CDE2B8A2
  22. https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9780748694174.003.0008
  23. https://www.itromso.no/kultur/i/o6d6wB/kill-buljo-utsolgt
  24. https://www.screendaily.com/norways-kill-buljo-sells-to-26-territories-for-imagination-worldwide/4035874.article
  25. https://screenanarchy.com/2007/11/us-trailer-for-norwegian-kill-bill-parody-kill-buljo.html
  26. https://dvd.amiga32.com/reviews/7046685003434/7046685003434.htm
  27. https://nordiskfilmogtvfond.com/news/stories/norwegian-kill-buljo-sold-to-26-territories
  28. https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Kill_Buljo?id=94CBBC558C109D11MV&hl=en_IE
  29. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kill_buljo_2
  30. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kill_buljo_2/reviews
  31. https://en.notrecinema.com/communaute/critique/kill-buljo_334068.html
  32. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1956283393/weekend/
  33. https://deadline.com/2011/02/paramount-schedules-hansel-mgm-co-financing-107280/
  34. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/violent-night-2-tommy-wirkola-sequel-1235276397/
  35. https://collider.com/tommy-wirkola-hansel-gretel-witch-hunters-interview/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2366131/
  37. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2832470/
  38. https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781474457866-011/html
  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2366131/fullcredits/
  40. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/247290-kill-buljo-2?language=en-US
  41. https://nordiskfilmogtvfond.com/news/stories/nordic-admissions-2013-part-2-iceland-norway-sweden
  42. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1939506177/weekend/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.