Sisu: Road to Revenge (2025) Review: A Gloriously Absurd Chase Across Karelia

This Sisu: Road to Revenge review starts with a simple warning: the film is violent, ridiculous and a lot of fun. Jalmari Helander returns to the world of his 2022 hit with an 89-minute action war movie that keeps its foot on the gas. If you loved the first film's stubborn hero, you already know the tone.

Sisu: Road to Revenge Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Sisu: Road to Revenge plot is almost fable-like. Aatami Korpi, the man who refuses to die, goes back to the place where his family was murdered during the war. Instead of mourning, he pulls the wooden house apart, loads it onto a truck and sets out to rebuild it on safer ground.

The Soviets have not forgotten him. The commander who killed his family, Yeagor Dragunov, is sent after him, and what follows is a long, relentless chase across the country. The setup is lean, and the film wastes little time before the first clash.

It works as a western transplanted to Finland: one stubborn man, one goal, and a long road full of people who want to stop him. The Sisu 2 page on IMDb lists the full credits if you want to check who did what.

What Works in Sisu: Road to Revenge

The action is the main draw. Helander stages set pieces that are creative, loud and wildly impossible, and he knows when a stunt should tip into dark comedy. Several sequences are so absurd that you laugh and wince in the same moment.

• Simple emotional core: the hero just wants to bring his family home, and that gives the carnage a surprising heart.

• Pacing: at 89 minutes, there is no filler.

• Tone: it balances grim war imagery with tall-tale humour better than most genre sequels.

The cinematography also deserves credit. Wide landscapes and carefully built sets give the chase a real sense of place. Fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy alongside our other action movie reviews.

Sisu: Road to Revenge Cast and Performances

The Sisu: Road to Revenge cast is led by Jorma Tommila as Aatami Korpi. He says very little, and he doesn't need to. His weathered face and stoic physicality carry both the pain and the dry humour of the role.

Stephen Lang plays Yeagor Dragunov, the commander hunting him. Lang brings menace and swagger, and he gives the story a villain with real history. Richard Brake appears as a KGB officer, with Tommi Korpela, Kaspar Velberg and Pääru Oja in supporting roles.

Nobody is asked for deep psychological range. The cast instead commit fully to the heightened tone, and that is the right choice.

Where Sisu: Road to Revenge Stumbles

The film is style over substance for some viewers. Some audience reviews note that the backstory could be richer, and that the early promise of emotional depth gives way to spectacle. The politics are also broad, with Soviet characters drawn as little more than cartoonish threats.

The invincibility of the hero will test your patience too. The first film earned its legend status, but here the plot armour is thick, and the survival gags can feel repetitive. If you want grounded realism from your war movie, this is not it.

The story is also very close to the original. Fans may enjoy the familiar rhythm, but anyone hoping for a big reinvention will not find one.

Is Sisu: Road to Revenge Worth Watching?

Yes, if you like your action brutal, fast and funny. This sequel does not reinvent the formula, but it delivers a satisfying, well-crafted ride with a clear emotional anchor. Audience scores on TMDB sit at 7.3 out of 10, which matches our own view.

The Sisu: Road to Revenge release date was 21 October 2025, and it is rated R for strong violence. It is a Finnish-language film, so expect subtitles. Watch the first movie beforehand if you can, though the sequel is easy to follow without it.

If you enjoy war stories with a western streak, you may also want to browse our war movie reviews. For another 2025 action ride, try our Den of Thieves: Pantera review.

Who Will Enjoy Sisu: Road to Revenge

• Fans of the first Sisu who want more of the same relentless, darkly funny action.

• Viewers who like over-the-top stunts and don't mind graphic violence.

• Anyone after a short, fast action film with a simple, emotional goal.