Sisu: Road to Revenge review – Immovable object meets unstoppable force in action-packed sequel

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The film *Sisu* tells the story of a lone Finnish commando who single-handedly defeats a Nazi platoon during World War II. In the sequel, he faces a similar challenge, battling numerous Russian soldiers while desperately trying to return home.

Similar to the first movie, “Road to Revenge” begins by explaining the meaning of “Sisu.” It’s a Finnish word that doesn’t have a simple English translation, but it represents a fierce courage and unwavering determination that appears when there seems to be no chance of success.

Throughout the film *Sisu*, Aatami (Jorma Tommila) perfectly demonstrated resilience and determination as he fought off and defeated numerous Nazis who were trying to steal from and kill him.

Known as “the man who refuses to die,” the hero returns in a new installment, picking up two years after the last story. Though the war is over, Finland has suffered greatly to achieve peace.

What is Sisu: Road to Revenge about?

In Sisu: Road to Revenge, Aatami returns to his family’s cabin, the site of a horrific wartime tragedy where his wife and children were killed. However, the cabin is now located within Russia, a consequence of Finland giving up land to the Soviet Union after the war.

Aatimi’s face clearly shows his pain as he walks through the building, lost in memories of the past. Despite having no lines, actor Jorma Tommila brilliantly conveys his character’s thoughts and emotions, making them powerfully felt by the audience.

Aatami makes a symbolic gesture of letting go of his past by burning his belongings. He then takes apart his house, loads it onto a truck, and intends to rebuild it in Finland, a place he and his loved one both call home.

Immovable object vs unstoppable force

In Siberia, a KGB agent releases Yeagor Dragunov (Stephen Lang) from prison and gives him a dangerous mission.

During the war, Dragunov led brutal operations, destroying villages and committing horrific acts of violence, including against Aatami’s family. In response, Aatami reportedly killed 300 soldiers from the Red Army.

He was informed that the dangerous operative had crossed into the Soviet Union ten hours prior, and given orders to both resolve the resulting chaos and dismantle the myth surrounding that operative’s reputation – a reputation he himself had fostered.

The determination in Dragunov’s gaze hinted at a similar inner strength, suggesting an inevitable clash between two incredibly powerful forces.

Planes, trains, automobiles, and tanks

The story quickly becomes a fast-paced chase filled with intense action. It begins with a single act of violence – someone throwing a Molotov cocktail – and escalates to a climactic battle involving a man riding a missile. Throughout the chaos, the hero faces overwhelming challenges, but consistently overcomes them by defeating his enemies.

The motorcycle chase is thrilling, combining the high-octane action of Mad Max with the exciting adventure of Indiana Jones, all made possible by incredible stunts.

Three planes then pursue Aatami and his truck, but he cleverly evades them using his wits and skillful driving. The way he disables the second plane is truly remarkable and has to be seen to be appreciated.

The movie then features exciting tank battles, with the action sequences becoming increasingly impressive. This all leads to a fantastic showdown between the main character and the villain, and the final scene was genuinely moving.

Is Sisu: Road to Revenge good?

Sisu 2 is both highly entertaining and remarkably creative, though occasionally the plot in Road to Revenge stretches the limits of believability.

Aatami is a wildly unpredictable character. Sometimes he appears as an incredibly powerful hero, other times as an unstoppable, otherworldly force. But he also has moments of pure slapstick comedy, like a cartoon character constantly evading his pursuers – in this case, the Russians. The humor is over-the-top, even featuring him getting his fingers caught in a mousetrap.

Tommali delivers a truly charming performance as Aatami, and with his adorable dog Ukko at his side, we happily follow him even when the story gets completely absurd. This time, the story is made even better by the heartfelt and surprisingly relatable reason behind Aatami’s quest.

Sisu 2 is a movie that explores the damaging effects of imperialism. Director and writer Jalmari Helander beautifully portrays the landscapes of his war-torn country with sweeping, wide-angle shots of its expansive wilderness.

Aatami is deeply motivated by his home, both as a physical place and an emotional concept. Seeing him pack up his life and begin a seemingly impossible journey to rebuild in his beloved country is a powerful image that perfectly embodies the Finnish spirit of Sisu – resilience in the face of adversity.

Sisu: Road to revenge score – 5/5

Road to Revenge is packed with non-stop action and inventive combat, all while telling a compelling story about the pointlessness of war.

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2025-09-22 21:20