We posted the first teaser poster for AJ Annila's upcoming Finnish horror film Sauna - AKA Filth - back in May, taking note then because this is both part of the ongoing wave of Nordic genre film and the sophomore film from the director of Jade Warrior, a film I like rather a lot. Due to shoot in Prague this coming fall, the film promises to be a smart, mean affair, a horror film intended for a more adult audience than most with a director at the controls who is capable of producing stunning imagery on a tiny budget. Since posting that initial news we've been fortunate enough to receive some pre-production art and a detailed synopsis.
A cruel horror film bathing in the Finnish sauna culture, in the no-zone between Christianity and paganism. A story of two brothers, who leave a young girl to die and become haunted by her, as she follows them in supernatural form, her face pouring with endless filth. The brothers escape with a commission marking the border between Russia and Finland to a Russian-Orthodox village. In there they find a sauna - The sauna where all sins are washed away. Seeking for forgiveness, the brothers step into the sauna...Sauna is a horror film about sins, repentance and forgiveness. The story leads us into the core of darkness, where there is no forgiveness, no hope, no salvation.
Annila has said that he wants to make a movie that's so scary even he wouldn't want to watch it. We'll see how well he'll succeed.