Sisu: Road to Revenge

Sisu: Road to Revenge
Starring Jorma Tommila, Stephen Lang, Richard Brake
Directed by Jalmari Helander

"Sisu" is one of those little miracle movies, something hardly anyone heard of, featuring a cast no one knew, about a simple premise - John Wick set in World War II, a silent assassin who murders Nazis with gusto and gore. The modest film became a huge hit, and it seemed like a simple one-and-done, but now we're gifted with a sequel. While many movies don't necessarily need one, "Road to Revenge" serves as a great addition to the now-franchise, reminding viewers of "Mad Max: Fury Road" as our voiceless hero makes a trek to transfer his home to his new home country while being chased by a relentless madman who killed his family.

World War II has ended, and Finland ceded Karelia to the Soviet Union. Finnish ex-commando Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) crosses the border into Karelia to dismantle the home he built with his family, who were murdered by Igor Draganov (Stephen Lang), a Soviet Red Army officer. Heading back to bring the logs across the country line, Igor is tasked by a KGB officer (Richard Brake) to kill the legend that is Korpi, due to the insurmountable Nazis he killed during the war. Hot on his trail, Draganov and Korpi come to blows again and again, where ultimately only one man can be left standing.

"Sisu" proves that you don't need to have a well thought-out story to make a movie exciting: you just need nonstop action, glorious gore, and a tongue-in-cheek humor that brings it all together. The protagonist never utters a word, and he doesn't need to - he proves that actions speak louder, and those actions are like nuclear explosions. At a lean 88 minutes, there's not a moment wasted, as I found myself laughing and enjoying myself from start to finish at how insanely crazy the kills were - belief suspended.

The slim story is actually an emotional one, as it focuses on one man with a singular purpose: to bring his home to his new homeland and rebuild after losing his family to the war. It's emotional at its core, but never lets it overshadow the insane action that surrounds it. You feel for Korpi even though he never talks, and just want him to live out his last years in peace - but of course, that's not meant to be. Jorma Tommila takes a beating again but beats back harder, utilizing everything at his disposal to dispatch his enemies - from the logs on his truck, to a tank, Tommy guns and even a missile to accomplish his goal. Any normal man would've died numerous times over, but again you need to suspend your disbelief to watch this type of movie, and this time around you don't mind it.

Your protagonist is only as good as their antagonist, and Stephen Lang has repeatedly proven himself an excellent antagonist. He's a cold, calculated actor who's often underestimated, and you feel his devilish character with every moment he's on screen. Giving two older men a chance to explore their action sides is also refreshing, and both dominate with gusto. 

There's not a lot to talk about with "Sisu: Road to Revenge," because it lets its action speak for itself - much like the mute protagonist, it lets the actions do the speaking, and it's a fun thrill ride for the short time it exists.

The Score: A