The Finnish/Danish/Croatian co-production is written and directed by Arto Halonen (Princess).

The psycho thriller The Guardian Angel is based on the true story of a remarkable series of hypnosis crimes that took place in Denmark during the 1950s. the film focuses on a man - Bjørn Schouw Nielsen (played by US actor Josh Lucas) who used hypnosis to turn another man, Palle Hardrup (played by Cyron Melville) into a robber and a murderer.

Danish star actor Pilou Asbæk is investigator Anders Olsen in charge of the case and Finnish/Danish actress Sara Soulié is Olsen’s wife. Other cast members include UK actor Christopher Fulford and Croatian star Rade Šerbedžija.   The top crew list includes cinematographer Pini Hellstedt (Lapland Odyssey), editor Jussi Rautaniemi (The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki), and production designer Søren Schwartzberg (The Man).
The film is produced by Arto Halonen (Art Films Production and Tähtiloiste Elokuvatuotanto), in co-production with Timo Lahtinen (Smile Entertainment, Denmark) and Igor A. Nola (MP Films, Croatia), with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Finnish Film Foundation, Creative Europe, co-financing from YLE and TV2 Danmark. Scanbox handles Scandinavian distribution and delivery is set for February 2018.

The Helsinki-based private venture capital IPR.VC has invested €1m towards the €3m film based on its ‘compelling storytelling, artistic ambitions, business opportunities and international cast’. Previous investments include €900,000 in Dome Karukoski’s Tom of Finland and €500,000 in the TV drama Bordertown.

Launched in September 2015 by Timo Argillander, Tanu-Matti Tuominen and Jarkko Virtanen, the Fund has a €20m budget for its three-year pilot phase. IPR.VC invests in movie, television, game and Internet content and companies with great potential on the international market.

Looking ahead, Tanu-Matti Tuominen told nordicfilmandtvnews.com: “We will probably make some investments outside Finland during 2017 but mostly this year we are preparing and studying market potential, deal flow and investment partner studies in Stockholm, Copenhagen, London and Berlin for the second Fund. We are always seeking co-operation with other investors and other stakeholders in order to best develop the European digital content market.”

Check our interview with co-founder Timo Argillander, CLICK HERE.