Sisu: Road to Revenge (2025)

​“Sisu: Road to Revenge” stars Jorma Tommila, Stephen Lang, and Richard Brake.  Released in Finland on October 22, 2025, followed by a United States release on November 21, 2025, the film has Aatami Korpi confronting a Red Army commander responsible for his family’s death.

The film was written and directed by Jalmari Helander, who also directed projects such as “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale”, “Big Game”, and “Perfect Commando”.  It is a sequel to Helander’s 2022 war action film “Sisu”.  There’s no denying that the Nazis and the Soviet Union are among the most despicable people in history who deserve to get what’s coming to them.  Their brutal and merciless actions were enough to make us want to blow them up into a million pieces.  Thankfully, one individual was courageous enough to do the job for us: a gold prospector driven by a thirst for violence.  This defines the low-budget surprise hit, “Sisu”, which chronicles a former Army commando turned prospector in his quest to protect his gold from a Nazi platoon by any means necessary.  Filled with inventive kills and a captivating performance by Jorma Tommila, “Sisu” became a fan favorite in the action genre, serving as a worthy companion to “First Blood”, which inspired the film, and even “John Wick”.  This success motivated writer/director Jalmari Helander to continue the bloody mayhem set in motion by the silent protagonist.  However, instead of protecting the gold like last time, the hero will find himself safeguarding something far more personal.  Was this shift enough to justify this grisly sequel, or would it have been better for the war legend to retire in peace?  Let’s find out.

The story once again follows Aatami Korpi (Tommila), a former commando turned gold prospector who previously survived an assault by the Nazi platoon.  He returns to his home in Soviet-occupied Karelia, where his family was tragically murdered during World War II.  In an effort to honor their memory, Aatami dismantles his family home, loads the pieces onto his truck, and embarks on a road trip to a haven where he can rebuild it.  Unfortunately, his journey leads Aatami into perilous territory, drawing the attention of the Red Army.  As a result, Aatami must once again tap into his lethal skills to fend off the Red Army soldiers while striving to protect his home.  His onslaught ultimately brings him face-to-face with the man responsible for killing his family: a Red Army officer named Igor Draganov (Lang), who is intent on finishing the job he began long ago.

I’m sure most people were unaware that this film was released just in time for Thanksgiving.  In fact, I only learned about it from its trailer, which debuted a few months back.  However, there’s a good chance that those who enjoyed “Sisu” were eager to see more of the pulpy carnage against the villainous Nazis.  I certainly count myself among them, as I was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining “Sisu” turned out to be.  It was short, straightforward, and more importantly, rewarding in its gory violence.  It’s no masterpiece, but I enjoyed it enough to revisit occasionally, especially recently, for my preparation for the sequel.  Given the mild success of the first film, it’s clear that Jalmari Helander is facing the challenge typical of many action-packed follow-ups: maintaining the elements that made the original a hit while providing a narrative that justifies its continuation.  After experiencing another round of old-school bloodshed, I have to say that he made another killing with this sequel.

Much like the first film, “Road to Revenge” delivers the pleasure of seeing the demise of heartless adversaries in an explosive, gory manner, only this time, the Soviets are the ones who’ll receive that gruesome treatment.  However, even with the satisfaction of watching the Soviets get what’s coming to them, its adult-rated violence may not be for the faint of heart, particularly those with sensitive stomachs.  If you don’t mind this level of violence, there’s a good chance you might find some merits that derive from this brutally savage road trip.  Notably, it’s never afraid to embrace its pulpy campiness amidst a dark, World War II backdrop.  Some of the kills and stunts shown in “Road to Revenge” are extreme and often absurd, echoing the audacity of those in a “Fast & Furious” film.  However, they possess a satisfying, grounded appeal that makes them more delightful to watch than appallingly brain-dead.  Balancing the low-budget appeal with an absurdly graphic throwback to one-man-army movies of the past is no small feat.  Fortunately, Jalmari Helander became one of the filmmakers who handled this blend almost perfectly.

Typically, action sequels strive to be grander than their predecessors, not just in the narratives but also in the action set pieces.  Of course, this also results in larger budgets to meet this demand.  “Sisu” is no exception, with its sequel’s budget doubling that of the original, yet remaining small enough to match its predecessor’s quality.  Helander has certainly put that budget to good use, primarily through its violence, gore, and seemingly implausible stunts.  Ever wonder what might happen if you attempt to flip a tank over a border checkpoint?  “Road to Revenge” gives you that answer on a silver platter, and I must admit, it was pretty satisfying to witness.  It’s dumb, but I was entertained by what it had to offer.  The violence and visual effects exude a grandeur that surpasses the first film, and the framing of those scenes is better than in the first film.  Helander refrains from going too overboard with his new ideas, yet he retains that sense of creativity and suspense in its kills needed to complement its grounded tone and pulpy nature.  “Road to Revenge” is another example of an action sequel that goes big on stunts without compromising its small-scale feel, particularly given its decent visuals on a limited budget.

The movie is an hour and a half long, mirroring the length of its predecessor.  Given its premise of a former army commando killing people, it's fitting that it had a runtime as short as this.  Like the first film, “Road to Revenge” offers a brisk yet chaotically appealing experience that neither feels too short nor overstays its welcome.  It delivered what it needed in its narrative within the allotted length, maintaining a consistent pace that drives smoothly on its road to hell, racing towards its conclusion without easing off the throttle.  However, it does have some issues that threaten to derail the experience, notably its storytelling.  “Road to Revenge” is a straightforward revenge thriller that navigates familiar tropes seen in other action movies, particularly Aatami’s vendetta against Draganov, who murdered Aatami’s family.  It’s far from a groundbreaking achievement regarding Helander’s uncomplicated screenplay, but it’s also one of the more engaging revenge stories that attempts to blend heart with white-knuckled savagery.

The main reason is Aatami himself, who’s perceived by others as a war legend for his take-no-prisoners attitude and violent tendencies.  Yet it also portrays this silent protagonist as a family man whose soul was shattered by the war that claimed his loved ones.  “Road to Revenge” expanded this element further by depicting Aatami confronting the demon of his past and attaining the peace he seeks.  In a way, he’s not just killing the Red Army villains because they’re horrible people.  He’s doing it to end his own suffering.  Jorma Tommila has once again delivered a compelling performance that captures Aatami’s silent resilience, especially when he's channeling the character’s actions and facial expressions to convey his inner turmoil.  With this film and “Sisu”, I’m officially convinced to explore more of Tommila’s works someday, assuming that some of them are available to stream for free.  Stephen Lang also did a decent job portraying the villainous Igor Draganov, continuing his trend of infusing his antagonistic roles with a sense of mercilessness.  I wouldn’t say that Draganov is a perfect villain writing-wise, but his cruelty and connection to Aatami’s past add an intriguing layer that surpasses the predecessor’s villain.

Overall, “Sisu: Road to Revenge” is a relentless, gritty, and overly satisfying road trip that speeds along its straightforward narrative with ease.  While its premise and genre tropes may be simple, Jalmari Helander makes the most of its brief runtime with another exhilarating mix of bloody carnage and fast-paced action.  With the director’s blend of absurdity and low-budget graphic nature, this ultra-violent follow-up is a slight improvement that maintains its predecessor’s entertainment value while expanding the protagonist’s personal struggle.  It may not win over those who don’t like the first film due to its extreme violence and gore.  But, for others willing to embrace its absurdly graphic appeal, it offers another thrilling, blood-soaked experience that reaches its destination intact.  Thanks to its cast, particularly from Tommila and Lang, along with Helander’s direction, entertaining action scenes, and engaging storyline, this action-packed sequel is the most fun I had on a road trip this year, cinematic or otherwise.

B+