What’s It About

A man returns to dismantle his family’s house, where they were murdered in war, to rebuild it elsewhere. When the killer, a Red Army commander, tracks him down, a brutal cross-country pursuit begins.

MOVIESinMO REVIEW

Director Jalmari Helander is back with “Sisu: Road to Revenge,” a sequel that knows exactly what the audience wants and gives it to you unapologetically. This is a film that knows it’s not anything else. It’s loud, violent, entertaining, and utterly ridiculous, which is a good thing. If you walked into the first “Sisu” expecting a serious war drama and left disappointed, you probably won’t change your mind about this sequel. But if you came for creative action sequences and pure entertainment, this film will make you very happy. The setup is simple enough that you could explain it to someone in thirty seconds. We’re in 1946, right after World War II ended. Our hero, Aatami Korpi, a Finnish fighter played by Jorma Tommila, returns home to find his family destroyed. He decides to take apart his wooden house piece by piece, planning to rebuild it in Finland on the other side of the new border. That’s when things get messy. The Soviet Union notices that Aatami has crossed over and decides he’s too dangerous to let live. They pull a brutal officer named Igor Draganov out of a Siberian prison and tell him one thing: kill Aatami, and you go free. Igor, played by Stephen Lang, accepts the job. What follows is ninety minutes of one man trying to get home while an army tries to stop him. That’s really all there is, and honestly, that’s all the story needs to be. What makes this movie work is that Helander seems to have actually listened to people who watched the first film. Where the original “Sisu” took itself pretty seriously while still being over the top, “Road to Revenge” leans into the humor and the chaos. It understands that we’re not here for realistic physics or logical plot decisions. We’re here to watch creative kills and impossible action sequences. The film gives us exactly that, and it never stops giving it to us. There’s barely a moment to catch your breath once the chasing starts. A tank flies through the air like it weighs nothing. Soldiers get taken down in ways that make you wince and laugh at the same time. A train sequence near the end is so ridiculous that you know it’s impossible, yet somehow it works on screen. Tommila remains perfect as Aatami. The actor doesn’t need to speak a single word to tell you everything you need to know about his character. His face shows every emotion, and his body language does all the talking. You watch this scarred, tired man push through unbelievable pain because he has a goal, and nothing is going to stop him. His loyal dog, Ukko, a Bedlington Terrier, stays by his side through all the violence, which somehow makes the character even more likable. Something is touching about watching this silent warrior fight so hard just to rebuild a home where he can be at peace. Stephen Lang makes a genuine menace as the villain. Igor isn’t just a bad guy who wants money or power. He’s someone who gets personal pleasure from the chase. He’s cocky and dangerous, which makes him a worthy opponent for Aatami. When these two finally get together on screen, there’s real electricity. Lang plays Igor with the kind of unhinged energy that keeps you uncomfortable throughout the film. You believe he could do anything at any moment. The tension between them is the emotional core that stops this movie from being just mindless action. The action itself is where “Road to Revenge” really shines. Helander and cinematographer Mika Orasmaa have created sequences that feel fresh and inventive. Attacks come from cars, helicopters, trains, and open fields. The use of practical effects rather than all computer-generated imagery makes everything feel more real, even when it’s completely impossible. The makeup work on Aatami’s scarred body is impressive enough that you believe this man has survived countless battles. Every fight has a purpose, not just because the script needs filler but because Aatami is trying to survive and get home. The chapter structure that divides the film into seven parts keeps things moving at a quick pace. You never feel like a scene is dragging or that the movie is repeating itself. Instead, each section brings something new to the table. From car chases that remind you of “Mad Max” to hand-to-hand combat in confined spaces, the variety keeps you interested. The film moves at such a pace and with such confidence that you don’t have time to question whether anything makes sense. The most surprising aspect of “Road to Revenge” is the emotional heart of the film; underneath all the violence and explosions is a real story about a man who just wants to have a home again. Aatami’s mission is not only about revenge—even though it is certainly a part of it; it is about rebuilding his life and hopefully achieving some peace after losing everything. That sense of purpose gives the fights weight. We are not just watching an action spectacle; we are watching a man fight to reclaim his life. That matters, and the film is aware that it matters. The ending, no spoilers here, captures that feeling perfectly. It would be remiss not to mention that the film does have some issues. The chapter structure interrupts the flow of the film at key moments when it is most riveting. Some may see the plot as too thin or the action as too bank-breaking to be enjoyable. If you are the type of person who requires every little detail to make logical sense, this movie isn’t for you. The trailer also gives away several of the best moments, so there aren’t many surprises if you’ve already seen the promotional videos. The performances are good enough for what the film is trying to do. Nobody is winning awards for their acting here, but that’s not the point. Tommila is excellent at conveying emotion without words. Lang brings the right amount of crazy to his role. The supporting characters are really just there to fill the space of engaging in the action, and they do it well. Ultimately, Sisu: Road to Revenge knows what it is, embraces it, and goes for it. It has absolutely no issue with being ridiculous or absurd. It welcomes you into the chaos of the world and says, “Come on, let’s have a ride.” This is a filmmaker who took criticism from his initial outing and returned with something superior. He improved his aesthetic, added a greater wealth of humor, and edited action sequences that are exciting and look as if they are new. For a revenge action movie, this sequel delivers exactly what viewers want and asks for nothing more in return. If you appreciate action films that have no real sense of seriousness, if you like creative violent assailants who are imaginative with their choreography, or if you simply want to spend ninety minutes watching an unrealistic man do unrealistic things, “Sisu: Road to Revenge” is for you. Just leave logic at the door and hang on for the ride.

OUR RATING – A SATISFYING REVENGE 8

MEDIA

• Genre – Action

Street date

• Digital – December 16, 2025
• 4K/BluRay/DVD – February 17, 2026
• Video – 1080p
• Screen size 2.35:1
• Sound – English: Dolby Atmos
• Subtitles – English SDH, French

Extras

• Upping the Ante (HD 3:03)
• Deleted Scene – Alternate Ending (HD 00:41)