Why Sisu: Road to Revenge is the best action movie of 2025

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As a huge fan of ‘Sisu,’ I was blown away by how awesome it was in 2023. And now, ‘Sisu: Road to Revenge’ is just as good, maybe even better! I was lucky enough to sit down with the writer, director, and the stars of the movie to learn how they managed to create another incredible film.

‘Sisu’ is a unique form of courage, and the film portrays it through Aatami, a former Finnish commando. Driven by the brutal murder of his family by Russian forces during WWII, he transforms into a relentless and solitary force of vengeance.

The first Sisu movie featured a high body count of Nazis, but this time around, Aatami is targeting Russians – specifically, the person who harmed his family. This makes him even more ruthless in ‘Road to Revenge’.

In my review of Sisu 2, I said it’s packed with non-stop action and really inventive ways to take out the bad guys, but it also makes you think about how pointless war can be. I even got to chat with the director, Jelmari Helander, and the stars Jorma Tommila and Stephen Lang about how they really upped the ante for the sequel.

Coming up with the right idea for Sisu 2

Jelmari Helander, the writer and director, only decided to make a sequel to ‘Sisu’ when he had a compelling story idea: a determined man named Aatami finds his home is now located in Russia after the war. Rather than accept this, he takes the unusual step of dismantling his house, loading it onto a truck, and driving it back to Finland.

Helander explains that the concept of someone reclaiming their home from across a border is incredibly powerful. “It’s a deeply emotional idea that instantly drives the story forward,” he says. “The simple need to move a house is already difficult, but when others try to prevent it, the challenges become even greater.”

I’ve built this creative space from the ground up – the atmosphere, the voice, the whole style. It’s where I feel most at home because I’m free to experiment and do exactly what I want, and that’s incredibly liberating.

The film involves creating intense action and violence, and director Jalmari Helander worried he wouldn’t have enough ideas for the sequel, Sisu 2. However, he found that ideas kept coming. He jokingly admits he’s good at imagining how people should die, acknowledging it’s a strange skill, but that’s simply how his mind works.

Finding inspiration in James Bond and Indiana Jones

The motorcycle chase sequence in Sisu: Road to Revenge, known as Motorcycle Mayhem, was the most challenging part of filming – we even likened its intensity to the action in Mad Max: Fury Road.

Helander admits he didn’t consciously try to emulate Mad Max: Fury Road, but acknowledges its influence might be present. He was more directly inspired by the action sequences in films like Indiana Jones and classic James Bond movies, appreciating their energetic and lighthearted approach to chases and stunts.

You know, when I asked Jorma Helander about his favorite action scene in Sisu 2, he actually picked two! He really loves both the plane sequence and the train sequence – said he enjoyed filming both of them a lot.

He eventually chose a quieter, more subtle moment from the film’s ending – one he doesn’t want to reveal – as the scene he’s most proud of.

Casting the perfect villain

Yeagor Dragunov, a former KGB agent, is the villain in Sisu 2. He’s a ruthless war criminal known for horrific acts like destroying villages and committing terrible violence – he even murdered Aatami’s family. The filmmakers needed to find an actor who could convincingly portray such a frightening and evil character, so casting was crucial.

Helander initially envisioned a younger actor for the role, but he immediately embraced the idea of Stephen Lang. He felt it was a perfect fit and everything just fell into place.

Helander compared Lang’s performance to Jorma Tommila, explaining that both actors share a similar tough, weathered appearance – like classic old men. He felt this quality was a strong asset and contributed perfectly to the character.

I was so excited when I heard Lang was going to play the villain opposite ‘the man who refuses to die’! He explained it perfectly – he just couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that someone who won’t die still couldn’t be defeated, you know?

According to Lang, Dragunov is a truly intimidating and ruthless person – cold, calculating, and uncaring. However, beneath that tough exterior, he’s also someone with genuine feelings and simple desires. He’s a hardened individual, shaped by a difficult life, which has made him both strong and bitter.

He believes the movie is effective because Aatami and Dragunov are very similar characters. They both seem distant and are incredibly strong. He describes them as being in a no-win situation – like being ‘between a rock and a hard place’ – where Aatami is the rock and Dragunov is the hard place, or vice versa, and a confrontation between them feels inevitable.

Why Sisu: Road to Revenge is a timely movie

Lang thinks the themes of society and politics in ‘Sisu: Road to Revenge’ are especially relevant to what’s happening in the world right now, making it a timely film.

The story explores themes of home, relocation, grief, and significant loss, while also portraying the struggle to remain hopeful in the face of adversity. It really captures what many people are experiencing globally today.

You know, even with everything going on and people trying to pull us back to the past, I still see so much good in Americans – a real sense of hope and resilience. And to me, Aatami really embodies that spirit – that refusal to give up, no matter how tough things get. It’s inspiring, honestly.

‘Sisu’ is a uniquely Finnish idea – essentially, it’s the determination to keep going even when facing overwhelming negativity or despair. It feels particularly meaningful today, and I believe it’s a concept with a lot to offer the world right now.

Star Jorma Tommila feels the themes of Sisu 2 – family, home, and country – resonate even more strongly than in the first film, believing these values are more important than wealth. He describes the sequel as a more emotionally impactful and relevant story.

I’m so excited for Sisu: Road to Revenge – it’s coming out November 21, 2025! If you’re like me and love a good action flick, you can check out a list of all-time greats here.

 

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2025-11-17 19:21