Sisu (2022) Review

Sisu is the latest ‘crazy-violent-but-enjoyable’ films that has hit screens. In the same vein as Ready or Not (2019), Bullet Train (2022) and the John Wick films, these movies don’t let plot-holes or realism get in the way of delivering an entertaining experience with a high body-count.

In Jalmari Helander’s Sisu we are thrown into a world where the Nazis are on the retreat, determined to leave a path of destruction in their wake. Set in Finland during the final days of World War II, the film introduces us to Aatami Korpi, a rugged war veteran turned gold miner, played with effortless charisma by Jorma Tommila (well known for his role in another of Helander’s films – Rare Exports). As the Nazis stumble upon Aatami, mistaking him for a harmless old man, they soon discover that they’ve underestimated his resolve and lethal skills.

Sisu wastes no time in establishing its premise as a mythic and pulpy tale of revenge. Director Jalmari Helander embraces excess, relishing in the over-the-top violence that ensues. Each encounter between Aatami and the Nazis becomes an opportunity for creative and outrageously silly deaths, eliciting laughter and shrieks of delight from the audience. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, adopting a tongue-in-cheek tone and some styling elements that are reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino’s work. It also draws on elements of familiar films and genres to build an affinity with the viewer – notes of Mad Max, Indiana Jones, Westerns and most obviously John Wick are clear and fill the void left my the reduced dialogue.

While the portrayal of war-addled and nihilistic Germans may not offer much in terms of character complexity, the archetypal nature of the antagonists works within the context of this action-packed revenge fantasy. Aatami, known as “The Immortal” and renowned for his toughness, becomes a one-man army, systematically dispatching the Nazis in increasingly inventive ways. Jorma Tommila embodies the role with a granite-faced intensity, his charismatic presence driving the film forward.

The landscapes of war-torn Finland serve as a stark backdrop to the carnage unfolding on screen. Helander captures the devastation caused by both German and Soviet forces, grounding the revenge fantasy in the harrowing realities faced by the Finnish people. While the inclusion of captive female characters raises questions about the portrayal of wartime sexual violence, the film ensures that justice is served and payback is plentiful.

Sisu delights in its unapologetic violence, with practical effects and squelchy sound design enhancing the gruesomeness of the onscreen dismemberments and impalements. The film revels in its own mayhem, pushing the boundaries of reality and logic, leading to a Looney Tunes-like climax that leaves any semblance of realism behind.

Ultimately, it is Jorma Tommila’s captivating performance as Aatami that elevates Sisu from a simple genre exercise to an entertaining and memorable experience. His embodiment of the determined and scarred protagonist, coupled with the film’s relentless pace and unbridled mayhem, makes it almost impossible not to love this stone-cold, multiplex mayhem.

Sisu may not linger in the mind for long, but it successfully delivers on its promise of violent and fantastical entertainment. With its blend of wartime revenge, absurd humor, and charismatic performances, this Finnish action thriller stands out as a satisfyingly grisly addition to the genre.

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