Sisu

Sisu, the Finnish action film that took audiences by storm in 2023, delivers a punch to the gut (and everywhere else) with its relentless brutality and gonzo-grindhouse sensibilities. While it packs a visceral punch and boasts stunning visuals, it ultimately stumbles under the weight of its own excess, leaving viewers breathless but bewildered.

The film’s cinematography is a force to be reckoned with. The Finnish wilderness is captured in all its harsh, unforgiving beauty, from snow-dusted forests to frozen lakes that crack like bones. The action sequences are brutal ballets of violence, choreographed with a savage grace that makes every punch, kick, and bullet wound feel real. Blood splatters in slow-motion, limbs fly, and the camera lingers on every gruesome detail. Sisu isn’t for the faint of heart, but for those who appreciate their action raw and unsanitized, it’s a visual feast.

Jorma Tommila commands the screen as Aatami Korpi, a WWII veteran who transforms into a one-man army after Nazis steal his gold. He’s a force of nature, chewing through scenery and enemies with equal gusto. Tommila’s physical performance is impressive, conveying both Korpi’s steely resolve and his growing desperation. However, Korpi remains an enigma, with little in the way of backstory or emotional depth. We see his grit, but never truly understand what drives him, leaving him a compelling but ultimately cold protagonist.

The film balances its brutality with a surprisingly dark sense of humor. Gallows humor punctuates the violence, often at the expense of the Nazis, whose over-the-top villainy borders on camp. Some jokes land squarely, others miss by a mile, but the sheer audacity of Sisu’s comedic attempts keeps the tone unpredictable, even if it occasionally veers into cringe territory.

However, Sisu’s excess is both its greatest strength and its Achilles’ heel. The relentless violence, while initially shocking, quickly becomes numbing. The film wears its grindhouse influences proudly, but forgets that even grindhouse needs pacing and variation. By the time the third act throws its everything-including-the-kitchen-sink finale, the viewer is left exhausted rather than exhilarated.

Sisu is a visually stunning and brutally entertaining film. It pushes the boundaries of action cinema and offers a refreshing departure from Hollywood’s sanitized violence. However, its fixation on shock value and lack of character development ultimately prevent it from becoming something truly great. It’s a savage spectacle, but one that leaves you wondering if there was ever anything more than blood and guts beneath the surface.