Kill Buljo

After being gunned down at his engagement party by the Deadly Sapmi Assassination Squad, Jompa (Stig Frode Henrikson) is brutally shot in the head. He is now in a coma and presumed dead by his would-be killers, who include Tampa Buljo (Martin Hykkedrud), Crazy Beibifeit (Ørjan Gamst), Dr. Kjell Driver (John Even Pedersen), and Bud Light (Christian Reiertsen). After waking up from his coma, Jompa has just one thing on his mind: to kill Buljo.

If that plot sounds a lot like Kill Bill, it’s because it’s the plot to the 2007 Norwegian “remake” Kill Buljo. Though Jompa is not the renowned assassin, the Bride is in the source material; instead, Jompa is a likable but dim-witted slacker oozing incompetence. However, despite the lack of skills or training, Jompa does share one quality with the sword-wielding Bride, an unquenchable desire for revenge.

Though often called a remake, the film is much closer to Scary Movie‘s relationship with Scream. This is a parody from start to close, spoofing The Shining, Tomb Raider, and Bond films, all while satirizing stereotypes of Norway. Where some satires at least pretend to have a serious plot, no such notions are present here. Instead, stars/writers Tommy Wirkola (who directed) and Stig Frode Henriksen wear parody like a badge of honor, always steering the film towards the next big gag.

“…waking up from his coma, Jompa has just one thing on his mind: to kill Buljo.”

Kill Buljio hits all the gags you would expect and more with gusto. Buljo’s motivation for violence is creating more tourism for his land and eventually building a water park. That is just the tip of the absurd style Wirkola brings to the table. The deaths of each assassination squad member are more over-the-top than the previous. There’s a massive snowmobile chase and a Pai-Mei-style training montage, both of which feel at home in something like Kung-Pow: Enter the Fist. This film has no half-measures; everything is committed to setting up the next niche joke or subverting audience expectations.

Wirkola genuinely loves Tarantino, which shows in the sharp detail labored into each spoof. Every bit of satire and self-awareness adds to its unique meta-black comedy take on the world of Kill Bill. It feels equally like Scary Movie, Return of the Killer Tomatoes, and a plethora of other satires because, like Tarantino, Wirkola takes influence from an abundance of films, just in a weird and wacky format. Of course, some jokes land better than others, but Kill Buljo is wickedly funny, funnier than it should be. This parody is packed to the brim with dark, slapstick, and idiotic brands of comedy.  

Whether you categorize Kill Buljo as a parody or an outright remake, the film takes you on a larger-than-life journey toward revenge with more flare, fake blood, and far more laughs than expected. It’s strange and silly, and enjoyment hinges on one’s love of silliness. But the film is fantastic, not in an effortlessly cool Tarantino way, but in a low-budget campy culty midnight-film sort of way. Isn’t that what made Kill Bill great? How it took influence from all the great campy culty midnight-movie Kung-fu films? It’s a must-see for fans of Tarantino for the sheer fact this film exists, while others will love this for the spoofy, playful, raunchy satire it is.