The one-man army of destruction known as Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) is back! After taking on the Nazis in Sisu, but sadly losing his family in the process, he’s ready for a new life in Finland. However, it’s easier said than done as the Red Army is out for blood, revenge and his life in this sequel. While the slow-burning tension of the first movie is largely gone, the brutal simplicity and the explosive mix of blood and gasoline remain highly present in writer/director Jalmari Helander’s (Sisu, Big Game) pulse-pounding cinematic experience.
Tommila (Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, The Christmas Party) returns as the silent, relentless lead who’s literally about to rebuild his life after the death of his wife and child during the Second World War. The Soviet Union now rules, but Korpi isn’t going to give in quickly. Instead of establishing a life in the territory under Russian control, he sets out for Finland. With him are the planks of his house, once filled with love and laughter. After he loads them onto his truck, his trip to the newly drawn Finnish borders begins.
However, it is also the start of chaos, carnage and murder, as Red Army commander Igor Draganov (Stephen Lang), the man who murdered Korpi’s family, is sent to kill him once and for all. The heroic and inspiring legend of Sisu has spread throughout the region, and to ensure that this infamous warrior poses no threat to the Red Army, the Russians task Draganov with finishing the job and making Aatami pay for his brutality.
A fearless hero driving a massive vehicle filled with wood, while a bloodthirsty murderer and his soon-to-be blown-up soldiers hunt him down? The story guarantees the spectacle it promises, and your wildest imagination won’t come close to what Helander delivers. When watching his brilliantly constructed set pieces and remarkable action craftmanship, it’s crystal clear that a) this Finnish filmmaker is a force to watch and b) that this sequel is the 2025 Mad Max: Fury Road. The ‘Motor Mayhem’ chapter – one of the many segments of the film – clearly is a homage to George Miller’s revolutionary work, but it never becomes a carbon copy. The filmmaker revitalises the best aspects of Mad Max and Sisu, resulting in the most enthralling scenes. This sequel delivers carnage, disorder and heart-racing thrills that will keep you on the edge of your seat during the entire concise runtime of 88 minutes.
Because the story is as straightforward as they come – one long journey during which Draganov tries to hunt down Korpi, while the latter gets closer to the borders – Helander knows that the obstacles Korpi encounters need to be as absorbing as possible to keep the audience engaged. To do so, he cleverly teams with cinematographer Mika Orasmaa (Tuntematon sotilas, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale), who’s clearly the perfect man for the job. His dazzling visual language makes Sisu: Road to Revenge feel like an exceptionally planned and executed dark mix of the Looney Tunes and Buster Keaton. What could have easily been an ordinary action movie and a straight cash-in for Helander is a film that retains its wow factor and electrifying energy due to the filmmaker’s dedication to his craft.
The longer, bloodier and more demanding Korpi’s journey turns out to be, the more impressive Orasmaa’s set pieces become. Fiery explosions, mutilated bodies and innovative narrow escapes occur in rapid succession. You might think the over-the-top action might become tedious over time, but nothing could be further from the truth. Time and time again, the filmmaking team proves that it has enough creative, imaginative, and enthralling ideas to turn each action scene into a bold, totally absorbing one.
It is all undeniably silly, extravagant and blood-soaked. However, because Helander gives you time to breathe and to absorb the protagonist’s feelings of love, loss and slight hope, the movie never becomes so extreme in its action that it’s off-putting. Beneath the mythical façade, Korpi carries the scars of a lifetime of suffering, and the filmmaker isn’t afraid to deeply explore that pain and exhaustion as well as the unbreakable bond between the lead and his dog, Ukko.
Besides the intense focus on raw emotion, the two brilliant leads are what set this film apart from the long list of action movies. While Tommila once again guides you through the story with both tear-filled gazes and an impressive physical performance, it’s Lang who almost makes this film his own. The grit, determination and malevolent presence he uses to portray Korpi’s most formidable foe show that when you give the Avatar and Don’t Breathe 2 actor the perfect script, he runs with it brilliantly. He’s the boldest and coldest embodiment of the cruel forces that turned Korpi’s world upside down. While the showdown is predictable to anyone who has seen an action movie, it still delivers an explosive, satisfying climax.
Sisu: Road to Revenge uses the same narrative structure and highly dramatic stakes as its predecessor while, at the same time, taking the danger, eye-popping stunts, and emotional arc to a whole new level. It might feel more fragmented and bombastic, especially when it goes into overdrive. However, it still finds the perfect balance between high-octane, rapid-fire sequences and the quiet, touching moments, making it a worthy sequel.
Sisu: Road to Revenge is out in cinemas on November 21, courtesy of Sony
Sisu: Road to Revenge uses the same narrative structure and highly dramatic stakes as its predecessor while, at the same time, taking the danger, eye-popping stunts, and emotional arc to a whole new level.
Freelancer by day. Film journalist by night.
