By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Two years after the Finnish one-person army action flick released in the U.S., its sequel rampages into theaters. “Sisu: Road to Revenge” finds this silent hero back on a murderous warpath, this time against Communists instead of Nazis. Once again, this story is basic and doesn’t waste any time getting to the insane action.
It’s now 1946 and WWII is over, but Aatami Korpi’s (Jorma Tommila) battle has only just begun. With the Soviet Union claiming part of Finland as its own territory, Aatami is forced to pack up his home and move. Standing in his way is Igor Draganov (Stephen Lang), the man responsible for murdering his family. Supplied by the Red Army with whatever resources he requires, Igor looks to end this murderous menace once and for all, but he shouldn’t underestimate the power of Sisu.
Finnish writer/director Jalmari Helander repeats his exact same formula from the first film, crafting entertainment from violently explosive action sequences with very little plot and dialogue. He simply changes the enemy/uniforms from Germans to Russians. He does change things up a little bit with the added element of revenge to solicit more viewer support for the main character’s destructive barbarism. In this way, Jalmari is able to increase the level of brutality in creative ways, like pinning a soldier to the door with a pickaxe through his mouth. However, without much of a story or character development to speak of, these sequences tend to desensitize the audience, making them somewhat bland and forgettable.
Also, like the first film, Helander uses a cinematography style that accentuates the natural elements of the scenic landscape, which was actually shot in Estonia instead of Finland this time. Interestingly, he uses a steady-cam approach, even during the chaotic action scenes, allowing audiences to absorb every detail in both the foreground and background of those scenes. This emphasizes the graphic gore during the fight sequences. Helander also employs heightened sound to compliment the grotesque visuals, attacking multiple senses simultaneously. The train scene epitomizes this strategy, showing the main character slowly walking barefoot over broken glass accompanied with the sickening squishy sound of the glass piercing flesh.
Returning in the starring role, Jorma Tommila once again barely says a word throughout the entirety of the movie. His performance is conducted through his facial expressions, body language, and abrupt action. Jorma does an excellent job of making viewers feel his burning rage as it boils over into explosive vengeance. As his stoic expression slowly devolves into focused determination with his mouth curling into a snarl of gnashing teeth, while tightening his grip on the truck’s steering wheel, the audience can’t help but grin from ear to ear as they know full well what is coming next.
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The addition of Stephen Lang as this sequel’s antagonist is a great decision, especially after his recent quality performances as the main villain in the “Avatar” films. He is perfectly suited for this military-based role, portraying the coldly brutal demeanor to perfection. His calm line delivery and murderous disposition prove to be a worthy opponent to the otherwise overpowered protagonist.
For those who enjoyed the first film or simply want a brain-numbing, action romp with little to no dialogue to interrupt the bloodlust, then this is the film for you. “Sisu: Road to Revenge” may be the perfect antidote to a turkey induced food coma this Thanksgiving. So, sit back, loosen that belt, fall into a drooling stupor, and enjoy the hour and a half of non-stop violence.
This movie earns:
