Marko Mäkilaakso

{{short description|Finnish music video and film director}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Marko Mäkilaakso

| image =

| alias = Mark Hillvalley

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1978|2|23}}

| birth_place = Hämeenlinna, Finland

| occupation = Film director
Music video director

}}

Marko Mäkilaakso (also known as Mark Hillvalley; born 23 February 1978){{cite web|url=https://elonet.finna.fi/Search/Results?filter[]=author2_id_str_mv%3A%22kavi.elonet_henkilo_928870%22|title=Marko Mäkilaakso|website=Elonet|access-date=23 April 2023|language=fi}} is a Finnish music video and film director. He has directed music videos for Uniklubi, Tiktak, Antti Tuisku, Indica and Robin, among others. Uniklubi's music video "Huomenna" won the Best Domestic Music Video prize at the 2005 Emma Awards and Indica's music video "Vuorien taa" was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2005 Muuvi Awards.{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919062101/http://www.ifpi.fi/ajankohtaista/article.html?newsid=127|title=MUUVI 2005 ehdokkaat|publisher=IFPI|date=19 April 2006|access-date= 23 April 2023 | language = fi}}

His first feature film, War of the Dead, was released in 2011, and after that, Mäkilaakso directed the Syfy-produced television film, Deadly Descent: The Abominable Snowman, also released under the title Yeti.{{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000000732403.html|title=Illalla televisiossa: Suomalaisohjaajan lumimiesfloppi tv-ensi-illassa|work=Ilta-Sanomat|date=21 March 2014|access-date= 23 April 2023 | language = fi}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scifi-movies.com/en/short/0004486/deadly-descent-the-legend-of-the-abominable-snowman-2013/|title=Deadly Descent: The Legend of the Abominable Snowman|website=SciFi-Movies|access-date=23 April 2023}} In 2014, Mäkilaakso was supposed to direct fourth film of The Asylum's the Mega Shark series, Mega Shark vs. Kolossus, but shortly before the start of shooting, he abandoned the project,{{cite web|last=Natri|first=Santtu | url= https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9942435 |title= Suomalaisohjaaja hylkäsi Hollywood-pestinsä pari päivää ennen kuvauksia| work= Yle| date=22 November 2017 | access-date= 23 April 2023 | language = fi}} and instead, Mäkilaakso directed his next film, the 2018 action film It Came from the Desert, based on the 1989 video game by the same name.{{cite web|url=https://ravenbannerentertainment.com/index.php/news/newsdetail?id=99d81ded-2688-4a12-821e-26622cc267f0|title=Interview with ‘It Came From the Desert’s’ Marko Mäkilaakso|publisher=Raven Banner Entertainmen|date=2018|access-date= 23 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.episodi.fi/elokuvat/it-came-from-the-desert/|title=It Came from the Desert – elokuvan arvostelu|last=Vikman|first=Jouni|work=Episodi|date=5 September 2018|access-date= 23 April 2023 | language = fi}} In 2019, Mäkilaakso directed episodes for the third season of the Bordertown series.{{cite web| url= https://www.kansanuutiset.fi/artikkeli/4178098-sorjonen-jatkuu-tanaan-jokainen-meista-pystyy-pahaan| title= Sorjonen jatkuu tänään: jokainen meistä pystyy pahaan| work =Kansan uutiset| date= 6 November 2020| access-date= 23 April 2023 | language = fi}}

In 2021 Mäkilaakso was producing a horror comedy The Creeps, starring Christopher Lambert.{{cite web|url=https://www.blacklionpictures.fi/english-press/the-creeps-eng/|title=The Creeps|publisher=Black Lion Pictures|access-date= 23 April 2023}}{{cite web| url= https://www.screendaily.com/news/finnish-creature-feature-the-creeps-starring-christopher-lambert-gears-up-for-production-start-exclusive/5157812.article | title= Finnish creature feature ‘The Creeps’ starring Christopher Lambert gears up for production start (exclusive) | last= Kay| first= Jeremy| date= 5 March 2021 | work= Screen Daily | access-date= 23 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3654877/creeps-christopher-lambert-celebrates-monsterfest-finnish-creature-feature/|title=‘The Creeps’: Christopher Lambert Celebrates Monsterfest In Finnish Creature Feature|first=Brad|last=Miska|work=Bloody Disgusting|date=8 March 2021|access-date=23 April 2023}} and Joe Dante.{{Citation |title=The Creeps |url=https://mubi.com/films/the-creeps-2021 |access-date=2023-06-14 |language=en}}