Sisu: Road to Revenge had the world premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX on September 21, just two months ago. It was highly anticipated then, so satisfying and viewing it in the theater again earlier this week was so great, even though I knew what the protagonist does. To simply refer to the sequel as an “action” film is not giving it full credit.
This Finnish drama and action sequel takes the viewer on the road with the protagonist, Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila, from the 2023 film) and his goal of returning to the site of his former home in Finland that became Soviet-occupied territory by 1946 after the war. The home included his wife and children before the war and were killed by Russian troops. Viewing the home, a flood of memories return. He disassembles the house, placing log by log onto his truck, and the viewer can assume he will rebuild it elsewhere. There is no dialogue as we watch him from arrival at the home to departure. It is others who are not pleased with his presence, despite doing so legally with presenting a passport to guards.
After all of what transpired in the Sisu 2023 film, Aatami Korpi’s name grew to be a legend. The Russians know this and still want to put an end to the “legend,” ordered by a Russian general (Richard Brake). He assigns the Red Army officer, Igor Draganov (Stephen Lang) to hunt him down. He is the man who killed Korpi’s family and is glad to eliminate Korpi.
Korpi is seen driving his vehicle loaded with wood and soon, he sees jeeps, trucks, and motorcycles approaching. Be prepared for the action despite what some may think will be predictable scenes. The film is presented in chapters and each of the title cards provides a hint of what Korpi deals with on his journey back to the land he now calls home after having been displaced during the war. A couple of the title cards are “Motor Mayhem” and “Incoming” by writer/director Jalmari Helander in the script. Think of bodies (and body parts) flying, plenty of explosions, blood (oh yes) and more for each of the chapters.
There is a reason why Korpi is given the name, “The Immortal” and the audience learns why. Helander and cinematographer Mika Orasmaa provide such great skill in keeping the film in non-stop motion, showing Korpi’s skills that take him from one chapter to the other.
Tommila’s performance as Korgi is superb. He conveys so much without dialogue. I am ready to watch other films he performs in. Lang is great as a villain in this film too and I am a fan of his talent.
I know blood and violence is not everyone’s favorite type of film to view, but these are great stories of survivors of war and what they are capable of despite challenges.
The film opens in theaters on November 21, 2025.
Source: Sony Pictures