Better known as Arctic Heat in Europe. Slightly edited in the intro for a real reindeer killing (14 seconds: Hammer in the head and gutting it with the knife)
Finland's Renny "Prison", "Die Hard 2", "Cliffhanger", "Elm Street 4", "The long kiss goodnight" Harlins first directed action film is a controversial tale of action/thriller/politics. This film was made during the mid 80s cold war. It was advertised as a Rambo-style action film in the United states. The film is an interesting story of three young American men who take an unwarranted trip into the Soviet Union and pay a big price for it.
The trio are driving around Finland above the arctic circle shooting guns, guzzling beers, and taking pictures. After stumbling around in the woods for a while, they come across the border to the USSR. And like idiots, they decide to sneak over to the other side for fun. This is all within the first 10 minutes. After that, one bad thing after another happens to them:
First off, they are blamed for the killing of a local village girl and the three are set to be executed, but elude their captors in an incredibly violent shootout. Now on the run, with one of their party wounded, the three are easy prey for Soviet troops as they try to make their way back to Finland.
Of course, the boys are captured in one of those typical "border scenes" where all the spotlights are instantly turned on, revealing the helpless victims who are now at the mercy of the evil commies. After being brutally tortured and forced to make false confessions by a Josef Stalin look a like they are labeled as American terrorists and the three are dumped into a gulag somewhere in Siberia to be forgotten (Guantanamo Bay?). The place is no Kolyma, but it certainly would suck to be in there. Not only are the conditions rough for regular prisoners, but beneath the prison is a game of human chess! Real people are used for pieces, and the losers are killed! Our 3 Americans are no chess players and decide to bust out shooting and killing until they reach the safety in Finland while they are being chased by evil commies once again! And not repeating the mistake they made earlier trying to do it peacefully by sneaking back into Finland!

Here is a review from a Russian in Estonia:

I am a 60-year old Russian born in Estonia (a Baltic country annexed and occupied by Russia 1940-1991). I have travelled a lot by hitch-hike around the USSR and seen what the life was like there. I know the grim Russian reality first-hand.
That is why I disagree with a comment saying that Born American "is a bad film and it's made worse by the fact that it portrays every level of Russian society in a very unflattering manner".
In fact, the film is realistic -- therefore its portrait of the Russian society is unflattering. The Finnish producer seems to know much more about the real life in Russia than many in the West. Later the film turns into an 'action'. But the general picture of the Soviet-time Russia is true.
Until the Soviet bloc collapsed this film could not be demonstrated here: it was banned. Moreover, Moscow made a protest to the Finnish government, even demanding that the film be banned from cinemas in Finland! Can there be a better proof that the film demonstrates the Soviet/Russian reality in a honest way?
Indeed, for a person in the West it may be hard to believe that such reality can exist. But may I tell you that an elderly Estonian exile once told of having cried watching a film about Russian slave labour camps, while other western audience laughed. People just couldn't believe it was possible -- but she knew, and she cried.

Valeri Kalabugin Tallinn, Estonia

Trivia: At the time the film was new it was heavily cut in UK and many other Western countries for its sadistic violence by 4-5 minutes.
Trivia II: Because of the controversies, bans, censorship the film made very well where it could be shown (Legally or not!) and director Renny Harlin got himself a Hollywood ticket where he continued his successful career starting with "Prison" (1988).
Trivia III: While the film heavily and for the most parts bashes Soviet politics it doesnt portray USA politics to be much better.