Hey folks, grab a kanelbulle and let’s talk Mafia. I caught this flick yesterday, and let me tell ya, it’s like biting into a surströmming sandwich—either you love it or you need to wash your mouth out.

The movie’s got grit, no denying that. There’s a rawness, like stepping out into that crisp Stockholm winter air. You know, the kind that makes your cheeks freeze and nose runny? It gets that violent struggle of power, something we Swedes recognize from our own tales of vikings and kings, but it’s set in dingy back alleys and smoky clubs.

I can’t not think back to when I was a kid, watching those old gangster films on a Sunday afternoon with my dad. He’d popcorn on the stove and we’d sit there, pretending to be mobsters while slurping on mum’s homemade lingonberry juice. Watching Mafia stirred up those nostalgic feelings; it’s stylish and a bit nostalgic itself.

There are scenes that hit you like a well-timed throw of a kubb piece—sharp and unexpected. The characters are layered, like a perfectly stacked smörgåsbord, but sometimes a bit repetitive. I mean, how many times do we need another mysterious alley shot? But hey, the dialogue snaps like a fresh crispbread.

But let’s be real here, it ain’t perfect. Maybe I’m getting old or perhaps just more picky, but the pace had moments slower than a summer day in Dalarna. And, the romantic subplot? About as essential as an umbrella in Skåne during a drought.

End of the day, I reckon Mafia’s worth a watch for its grit and thuggish charm. Just don’t go expecting anything too groundbreaking. Perfect for a night in with friends, reminiscing about those old screen icons we all used to mimic.

And if not, there’s always Youtube to cleanse your palate. Check the trailer here: Mafia