Sisu (Movie) Review

Action films have been enjoying something of a Renaissance over the last several years. Whether it’s the Fast and Furious films or the recently concluded (for now) John Wick films, action fans have been flocking to theaters to see how these stars and filmmakers top themselves with each installment. The latest offering to the genre comes in the form of Fienish actioner Sisu written and directed by Jelmari Helander, So how does Sisu stack up against its iconic forbears? It turns out it is a hell of a thrill ride that stands well among the ranks. 

A gritty, worn, grimy, and bloody tale of a man seeking peace, Sisu is an engrossing and chaotic thriller that has the most satisfying nazi killing since Inglorious Basterds, Sisu is a simple tale that is as easy as a thriller of this type can get, but the tale is clever, brutal, and immeasurably satisfying to watch, even with its roughly 90-minute runtime.

Story Setup

It is 1945. History is projecting the end of World War II. The war in Europe is coming to an end.  As the end draws near, Nazi Germany declares Total War. The order is to scorch the Motherland to stop the Allies and every able-bodied citizen is ordered to fight, regardless of age. By Armistice with the Soviets, Finland is ordered to assist the allies in taking down Germany once and for all. Years of war break down men into weathered shells.

For one man, he seeks peace from the thunder of bombers and the screams of the innocent. That peace does not last long as a Nazi unit attempt to rob this man of his hard-earned gold. Sisu centers on a veteran turned prospector named Korpi (Jorma Tommila) who must face down several nazis in an effort to find his riches and perhaps inadvertently save a few innocent people along the way.

Atmospheric Presentation

The visual aesthetic of Sisu perfectly matches the setting. The end of World War II in Europe was Hell on Earth as the Soviets and Allies closed in on Berlin. There is a worn and exhausted look on the protagonist Korpi, as well as the enemy Nazis he faces. For Korpi, there are the eyes of a man that has seen and witnessed the horrors of modern war the likes of which no one could stomach. All he has is his life, the land, and hunting for gold. This sensation of weariness works extremely well. 

For the Nazis, they too appear broken down and hollowed out to their most basic violent instincts. Their vehicles are functional but deteriorated. Their clothes are ruined and disheveled with even the SS Commander Helldorf (Askel Hennie) covered in dirt, sweat, and grime. Several higher-ranking members of Helldorf’s platoon forgo keeping their uniforms orderly. It’s a unit that has dismissed their humanity and they have broken down to their most basic instincts of violence and lust. 

Stunning Vistas

The color palette makes Sisu reminiscent of a wild Westerner with a focus on the gold rush. Korpi. There is a strong focus on orange and yellow hues like it was straight out of the Hollywood Western era. Cinematographer Kjell Lagerroos puts a striking vision of grim and grit on the landscape of a wild and cold wilderness that thunders with the road of allied bombers. There is a rawness to Sisu that is primal and strong. Heightening this is a music score by Juri Seppä & Tuomas Wäinölä that harkens to the Western inspirations that Sisu runs with. 

The set design also lends credit to the overall experience. There are hardly any buildings or structures. There is only open and empty wilderness. The occasional plain roars across the distance. There are grasslands and trees that stretch for miles. It adds to the primal instincts and rawness displayed on-screen and Korpi’s quest for vengeance. Audiences feel they are in the cold open battered wilderness as Korpi, at times stuck in the cold muck and mud. It heightens the almost animalistic instincts Korpi follows as he pursues his aggressors

No More Nazis

If you came for brutal anti-Nazi action, then you are about to eat a mighty meal with all the flavors one could like. The violence of Sisu is pulpy as viewers bear witness to total annihilation. Heads pop off like balloons. Nazis are perforated with more holes than Swiss cheese. Nazis are punched, kicked, stabbed, shot, and blown up into pieces. Machine guns pop with flare and violence.

Sisu is violence incarnate. It is brutal, untamed, raw violence the likes of which hasn’t been seen on screen in a decade. It’s engrossing and satisfying and deservedly so. Sisu is the closest I’ll get to the entertaining anti-Nazi action I’ve seen in video games such as Sniper Elite and the Wolfenstein games. Sisu sets a benchmark on how thrillers, and killing Nazis, should be done. There are ample amounts of blood and violence from exploding bodies in a minefield to Nazis being crushed by tank treads. 

Aiding the action is the resourcefulness of Korpi. He is resilient and determined, no matter how broken and weathered his body is. Every step towards danger is a demonstration of nerves of steel. Korpi is so determined to get his gold back and end this disturbance to his peace that his sheer spirit is what holds him together.

His body falls apart but the rage in his eyes and the bellowing yells are signs of his spirit enraged at the darkness brought to his life and his determination to destroy it. Korpi becomes a myth and legend given life and substance. His resilience and perseverance go leaps and bounds beyond the power of the human spirit to the point where he becomes a mythical grim reaper of sorts. 

Action more powerful than words

Jorma Tiller only says a handful of words in Sisu’s runtime, making his raw almost mute performance astonishing during Sisu’s runtime. His emotions and feelings are conveyed in larger and smaller details. The look on his face conveys everything.

His mouth puckers in a growl like a wild beast. His eyes show both sincere pain and unquenchable fury. He appears tired and remorseful in one poignant scene. For a man who says very few words, there is a surprising amount of emotion to Korpi and this more quiet approach allows for a strong degree of visual storytelling. It’s a remarkable change from other John Wick counterparts.

However, like the John Wick counterparts, there are hallmarks that seasoned viewers will be familiar with. There are dogs and action pieces that can get ridiculous. It’s a simple tale of revenge but it’s a tale that is done well. Even Korpi’s backstory, when revealed, has all the hallmarks of what one would come to expect. Sisu proves it isn’t about what you have but how it is used.

With John Wick, we have a former assassin return for payback after hoodlums murder his dog that was gifted to him by his deceased wife. Nobody, which was also made with John Wick talent, we saw a father a former federal agent turned family man rediscover his purpose and skill through a good old-fashioned bus brawl. Sisu, a man living in peace searching for gold is harassed by Nazis, disturbing that peace and earning his undying furor. It’s the same formula but it’s an effective one, especially when the presentation and action are so immeasurably satisfying. 

A little on the short side

Sisu is an excellent good time, but viewers should know what to expect. Like many films of the genre, there isn’t much of a plot to speak of, with the story serving as little more than a conduit for the action. That’s as it should be because the action is absolutely top-tier.

Our enigmatic protagonist Aarami Korpi delivers visceral blow after visceral blow thanks to the production designer and cinematographer Kejji Lageroos. Viewers feel as though they are in the thick of the action and that is the big draw of Sisu. 

The short runtime leaves something to be desired. There was such a good time to be had that one or two more big Nazi-killing scenes would have been perfection. However, a short and compact runtime is a good thing if done right, which Sisu does well. It arrives, it shows what it wants to show, and the movie ends in a satisfying manner. There isn’t anything complicated. It’s an action thriller that sticks to what it knows and does it very well. However, a slightly longer runtime could have been beneficial to delivering more satisfying action for the audiences that are invested in Korpi and his vendetta.

As for the villains, SS Commander Helldorf and his unit make formidable adversaries. They are thieves with no honor or humanity and act like rats scurrying for any morsel. However, while he is an elite commander and formidable foe, there is a small part of me that wants to see Korpi up against more significant odds.

Sisu already had me invested in the character and I do hope that the movie does set a benchmark for a new series of movies. There is much to explore with Korpi’s character as a Finnish man that has witnessed the hellscape of war through his own eyes. What else did he see or fight remains a mystery but adds to his myth.

Verdict:

Sisu is an action thriller spectacle unlike any other in films today. It is a tale of rage, hope, and brutally satisfying Nazi killing. It’s a 90-minute film of carnage when a man who lives for peace sees that peace trifled with. It’s a raw performance where the fires in a man’s eyes evoke a terror that sends fear into the most hardened of soldiers.

Jelmari Helander and the entire team should be commended for making a modern revenge thriller that feels like a Westerner and Horror film, with an incredible performance by Jorma Tiller. I do hope we see more Korpi in the future, because these days, we need more movies with more brutal action, especially against Nazis. Sisu is a thrilling joyride and easily one of the best movies of the year. 

 Sisu was reviewed thanks to a screening link generously supplied to Marooner’s Rock by Lionsgate