“Headhunters” starts out like one of those enjoyably preposterous thrillers about rich white guys that might have starred James Spader or Michael Douglas in the 1990s. By film’s end, we’re deep into Coen brothers territory, with an extra splash of Sam Raimi-level gore.

This Norwegian import has already been earmarked for a Hollywood remake, and they won’t need to change much. What’s gotten in the Scandinavian snow that’s generating so much diabolical creativity?

The movie centers on Roger Brown (Aksel Hennie), a hotshot corporate headhunter who moonlights as an art thief, raiding the homes of the prospective employees he interviews. He needs the extra cash to please the whims of his gorgeous wife Diana (Synnøve Macody Lund), who has expensive taste.

This is already a fairly ridiculous set-up, and director Morten Tyldum breezes through it quickly, letting you know he’s up to something more with the movie, so be patient. Roger’s next mark is Clas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), a former special forces soldier who has recently moved to Oslo and just inherited a Rubens worth millions. Naturally, Roger takes an interest in the painting. A trap is sprung. Several, actually.

Adapted from the novel by Jo Nesbø, “Headhunters” is always two steps ahead of you: Tyldum fools you into thinking you know what’s going to happen next, but you really don’t. Trust me.