I just walked out of the theater and my hands are still a little shaky, honestly. That was 89 minutes of pure, unadulterated adrenaline. I went in expecting a simple revenge flick, but 'Sisu: Road to Revenge' grabbed me by the collar and didn't let go. I'm sitting here with my coffee, and I can still hear the roar of that truck's engine and see the stark, brutal beauty of the Finnish landscape. It's a movie that doesn't just show violence; it makes you feel the weight and the dirt of every single moment. I'm still processing the sheer, stubborn will of that main character.
🎬 Watch the Official Trailer
What's Sisu: Road to Revenge About?
The movie picks up with our silent protagonist, played by Jorma Tommila, returning to his war-ravaged home. His goal is simple yet monumental: dismantle the house where his family was killed and move it somewhere safe to rebuild. It's a powerful act of defiance and memory. But when the vicious commander responsible for the massacre returns, it sparks a relentless, high-octane chase across the country. It's less a traditional war film and more a survivalist revenge thriller set against a post-war backdrop.
What Works in Sisu: Road to Revenge
- ✓ Jorma Tommila's performance is incredible. He says maybe ten words total, but his eyes and physical presence tell a complete story of grief and unbreakable resolve.
- ✓ The action is brutally practical and inventive. There's a scene involving a truck, a cliff, and some very creative use of mining tools that had my jaw on the floor.
- ✓ The cinematography is stunning. The contrast between the serene, wide-open landscapes and the sudden, gritty violence is beautifully jarring.
- ✓ The runtime is perfect. At 89 minutes, it's a lean, mean machine with zero fat. Every scene drives the chase forward.
What Doesn't Work
- ✗ The plot is razor-thin. If you're looking for deep character arcs or complex plotting, you won't find it here. It's a straight line from A to B.
- ✗ Stephen Lang's villain, while menacing, feels a bit one-note. He's pure evil, which works for the film's tone, but lacks nuance.
- ✗ Some of the violence is so over-the-top it might tip into absurdity for some viewers. You have to buy into the film's heightened reality.
Standout Moments & Performances
There's a moment early on where Tommila's character is silently taking apart his house, board by board. The care he shows, the way he handles each piece, hit me harder than any explosion. It established his mission perfectly. Later, a chase sequence through a riverbed had me holding my breath—the sound design of the truck grinding through rocks and water was incredible. And without giving anything away, the final confrontation in the half-built skeleton of the house is poetic and savage in equal measure. It felt like the perfect, brutal conclusion to his journey.
Main Cast: Jorma Tommila, Stephen Lang, Richard Brake, Tommi Korpela, Kaspar Velberg
Direction, Music & Visuals
Director Jalmari Helander knows exactly what kind of movie he's making. The direction is confident and focused, with a great eye for striking, almost mythic compositions. The score is a pulsating, synth-heavy beast that perfectly underscores the tension. Cinematography is the real star—every frame looks like a painting, even when it's covered in mud and blood. The performances are all committed, with Tommila carrying the film on his shoulders. Richard Brake also has a small but memorably slimy role as one of Lang's henchmen. The sound design deserves a special shout-out; you feel every engine groan and every impact.
Director: Jalmari Helander
Who Should Watch Sisu: Road to Revenge?
If you loved the relentless pace of 'Mad Max: Fury Road' or the gritty, survivalist vibe of the first 'Sisu', this is for you. It's perfect for action fans who appreciate practical stunts and a protagonist who wins through sheer grit and ingenuity rather than superpowers. Viewers who enjoy minimalist storytelling and visual spectacle over dialogue will have a blast.
Who Might Want to Skip?
Skip this if you need deep character development or a complex narrative. Also, if you're squeamish about graphic, stylized violence, this movie will be a hard pass. It's not a thoughtful war drama; it's a visceral chase film.
Final Verdict
Honestly, I had a blast. 'Sisu: Road to Revenge' delivers exactly what it promises: a simple, cathartic, and spectacularly executed action thriller. It's a testament to the power of visual storytelling and pure cinematic momentum. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially on the big screen for that immersive experience. Would I watch it again? Probably not tomorrow—it's intense—but I'd definitely revisit it with friends who love action. It's a solid, focused piece of genre filmmaking that knows its strengths and plays to them perfectly.
