In the wake of the immense success of the John Wick franchise, a slew of films have emerged that take a similar approach, each trying to capture the same high-octane thrill of a lone badass hero dispatching foes with ruthless efficiency. From Nobody to Extraction, one thing is clear — audiences love seeing a relentless protagonist take down bad guys. Enter 2022’s Sisu, a historical action thriller from director Jalmari Helander that places this familiar formula in the grim backdrop of Finland at the tail end of World War II. The film delivers the kind of no-holds-barred action fans of the genre crave, while also offering something a bit more unique with its setting and stakes. So, when a sequel was announced, it was intriguing to see how Helander would build on a formula that’s already been tried and tested.
From the outset, Sisu: Road to Revenge makes it clear that, as the title suggests, the sequel leans heavily into familiar genre tropes — perhaps more so than its predecessor. Personal vengeance takes centre stage as the driving force behind the story, with Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommaila) returning as the relentless Finnish ex-commando. This time, Korpi is forced to dismantle his home after it falls under Soviet control, with plans to rebuild it elsewhere. However, his journey quickly turns into a brutal, cross-country chase when the Red Army officer who murdered his family comes after him. Korpi must use every ounce of his deadly skill to protect himself — and, in an unusual twist, the very house he’s trying to relocate.
Where Sisu: Road to Revenge may fall short in originality, it more than makes up for it with style. The action sequences, for one, rank among the best of the year — raw, relentless, and expertly choreographed. The filmmakers lean into the ridiculousness of it all, fully aware of the absurdity on display. As the film progresses, the action set pieces grow increasingly illogical and downright impossible, yet rather than tone it down, the movie doubles down, with each sequence somehow topping the last in both spectacle and over-the-top violence. The result is a film that embraces its own outrageousness, delivering high-octane mayhem with unapologetic gusto. While CGI is occasionally noticeable, it integrates seamlessly with the film’s aesthetic, blending history with fantasy in a way that feels both absurd and exhilarating.
With a far more streamlined story than its predecessor, Sisu: Road to Revenge places a heavier burden on its cast to engage audiences and bring depth to Korpi’s journey. Thankfully, the performances deliver. Jorma Tommaila once again anchors the film as the stoic, unstoppable Korpi, but it’s Stephen Lang who really steals the show. Every moment he’s on screen, Lang commands attention, chewing through scenes with a palpable menace and energy that adds an extra layer of tension to the film.
That said, as the story becomes more barebones, it’s harder for audiences to connect with the characters on a deeper, emotional level. The stripped-down narrative doesn’t leave much room for character development beyond Korpi’s quest for vengeance, making it challenging to fully invest in his personal stakes.
However, the film’s conclusion provides a satisfying and earned sense of closure. It wraps up the story in a way that feels true to the film’s tone and themes, leaving no room for unnecessary excess. In this sense, Sisu: Road to Revenge manages to avoid the pitfall that the John Wick franchise has been grappling with in recent years — overstaying its welcome.
