Movie Review: Sisu: Road to Revenge

Sisu: Road to Revenge delivers a bold and unapologetic return to the roots of the one-man-army action genre—yet it does so with a uniquely Finnish soul. While many modern action films try to over-complicate their plots or drown in emotional subtext, Sisu strips everything back to raw instinct, survival, and relentless determination. And in that simplicity, it becomes strangely poetic.

A Finnish Twist on Classic Action Nostalgia

This film stands as a love letter to the gloriously over-the-top action movies of the ’80s and ’90s—films many of us grew up watching, often with a strange sense of comfort despite the chaos on screen. Sisu embraces that nostalgia wholeheartedly, offering action sequences so exaggerated that, in any other context, they would feel absurd. Yet within the gritty world the film builds, these moments feel perfectly justified.

Soviet Union battlefields erupt in explosive, larger-than-life violence, but the movie never pretends to be psychologically deep or morally reflective. Its purpose is clear: to entertain, to thrill, and to remind audiences why this genre became iconic in the first place. There is a strange warmth in watching carnage so stylized that it becomes almost cathartic—bloody, brutal, but oddly comforting.

Jorma Tommila: A Silent Force of Nature

At the center of this storm stands Jorma Tommila, delivering a performance so commanding that he doesn’t have to utter a single word. His silence speaks louder than dialogue. Every movement, every narrowed stare, every breath carries weight.

Tommila’s acting embodies a rare kind of physical precision—raw, disciplined, yet never theatrical. It’s the sort of performance that would undoubtedly impress Jouko Turkka, the legendary and controversial Finnish theatre master known for pushing actors to extreme physical authenticity. Watching Tommila, especially at 60+, feels like witnessing the full realization of that intense training philosophy.

A Simple Story Told with Brutal Beauty

At its core, Sisu: Road to Revenge is a stripped-down tale:
a man, a dog, no words, and a mission born from loss.

The simplicity becomes its strength. You don’t need long monologues to understand the character’s pain or resolve. His actions speak, scream, and roar across the narrative. And despite the violence, the emotional undertone is surprisingly tender. When everything in the world is gone, this man clings to the one thing he can still fight for.

The ending, without revealing anything, lands with unexpected beauty—a quiet emotional release after a relentless storm.

Standout Supporting Moment

Tommi Korpela appears only briefly, but his presence is sharp and memorable. In a pivotal moment, he delivers a few lines that carry surprising emotional weight, adding a layer of catharsis to the story’s final stretch.

Final Verdict

Sisu: Road to Revenge is not just another revenge-driven action movie. It is a stylistic tribute to a bygone era, reimagined through a distinctly Finnish lens. With jaw-dropping action, a hypnotic lead performance, and a tone that balances brutality with nostalgic warmth, the film earns its place alongside modern cult classics.

If you love action movies that are fearless, exaggerated, and unashamed of their identity—this film is absolutely worth your time.