Sisu: Road to Revenge review – Immovable object meets unstoppable force in action-packed sequel

Sisu featured a Finnish commando single-handedly wiping out a platoon of Nazis during WWII, and in this action-packed sequel, he does the same to scores of Russians on his tail, in a movie about one remarkable man’s quest to get home.

As with the first film, we’re given a definition of that title at the start of Road to Revenge. ‘Sisu’ is a Finnish word with no direct translation, but it means “a white-knuckled form of courage and unimaginable determination” that manifests itself “when all hope is lost.”

Aatami (Jorma Tommila) embodied that concept throughout the original Sisu movie, as he dispatched scores of Nazi scum endeavouring to rob and kill him.

And “the man who refuses to die” is now back for Round 2, which plays out two years after the events of its predecessor, when war is over, but Finland has paid a heavy price for peace…

What is Sisu: Road to Revenge about?

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Sisu: Road to Revenge sees Aatami heading home to the log cabin where his wife and two children were brutally murdered during the war. But the house now sits on Russian land, thanks to his country ceding territory to the Soviet Union.

Pain is etched on Aatimi’s face as he tours the building, remembering what once was. And it’s a testament to actor Jorma Tommila’s talents that his character is once again wordless, but the audience always knows that he’s thinking and feeling.

Aatami symbolically burns his worldly possessions, then dismantles the house, and packs it onto the back of a truck, with plans to reassemble his home on Finnish soil, where they both belong.

Immovable object vs unstoppable force

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“Meanwhile in Siberia,” a KGB agent frees Yeagor Dragunov (Stephen Lang) from prison to charge him with a terrifying task.

Dragunov previously masterminded missions behind enemy lines during the war, burning down entire villages, and chopping up women and children… including Aatami’s family. To which Aatami apparently responded by murdering 300 Red Army soldiers.

“This killing machine entered the Soviet Union 10 hours ago,” he’s told, and instructed to clean up the mess he made, and destroy the legend he helped to create.

The look in Dragunov’s eyes during this moment suggests that he also possesses some of that Sisu spirt, meaning immovable object is about to meet unstoppable force.

Planes, trains, automobiles, and tanks

What follows is a relentless game of cat and mouse. The first skirmish starts with a man holding a molotov cocktail, the final battle features another man riding a missile, while in between, hell is unleashed on our hero, but he rises to the occasion by doing what he does best – killing bad guys.

A motorcycle chase plays like a cross between Mad Max and the best of the Indiana Jones movies, thanks to some truly jaw-dropping stunt work.

Then a trio of planes go after Aatami and his truck, but he outsmarts, outthinks, and outmanoeuvres them, and the way in which he takes down plane two really has to be seen to be believed.

Some tank action follows, as the set-pieces get bigger and better as proceedings progress, building towards a battle between hero and villain that absolutely delivers, followed by a closing shot that moved me to tears.

Is Sisu: Road to Revenge good?

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Sisu 2 is as entertaining as it is inventive and audacious, but there are times when Road to Revenge pushes the boundaries of what viewers will believe or accept.

Aatami seems like an all-powerful superhero in some scenes, and a relentless supernatural force in others, while there are times when he’s more akin to Road Runner, with the Russians his not so wily opponents. Slapstick abounds, to the point that he even gets fingers stuck in a mousetrap.

But as played by Tommali – and with beautiful dog Ukko again by his side – Aatami is such a winning protagonist that we’re willing to go on the journey with him, no matter how ridiculous it gets. What really elevates the material this time out is the meaning behind his character’s mission, which is as relatable as it is emotionally charged.

Sisu 2 a film about the evils of imperialism, and writer-director Jalmari Helander captures both the beauty and desolation of his homeland post-war via stunning widescreen shots of vast open spaces.

While home is what drives Aatami, both literally and metaphorically, and the sight of him packing up his house and embarking on an impossible journey to then rebuild in the country that he loves is a stark image, and one perfectly captures the concept of Sisu.

Sisu: Road to revenge score – 5/5

Road to Revenge delivers wall-to-wall action and consistently creative kills, while the hero’s personal journey carries a powerful message about the futility of war.

Sisu: Road to Revenge was reviewed at Fantastic Fest, and hits US screens on November 21, 2025. In the meantime, you can check out our list of best action movies ever.