This is a violent, no-frills action film that immerses the audience into a nightmare of vengeance and survival. It is about Aatami Korpi, a Finnish former commando, who goes back to the war-ridden borderlands where his family was horrifically killed by the World War II. He destroys his house determined to pay tribute to their memory and goes out to construct it in another place. His determined silence is ruined as a brutal Red Army leader, portrayed with chilly menace by Stephen Lang, enters his life again, triggering a cross country sex-slaughter chase. This is a mythical struggle of a man overcome by mourning and an ungrateful challenge that combines pure action with the ideas of endurance and righteousness.
The film has a harsh, indulgent quality that is created by the direction of Helander who captures the icy scenery and the chaotic battle sequences in a very visceral way. The movie is paced without mercy and it transitions between the action-packed scenes and intimate scenes that allow the viewers to explore the emotional aspects of the narrative. The brutality of the Finnish nature and war are very powerfully brought to life through the cinematography, the destructive power of war is seen through the realistic effects and design of the production, and each explosion and confrontation is also made by genuine means. The film has its stoic but emotionally charged performance by Jorma Tommila who serves as a soul who does not give up and Stephen Lang who plays the antagonist, adding tension and stakes to the film.
Finally, the film, Sisu 2, is a gut-wrenching and emotionally touching experience that glorifies the human ability to stand tough in the face of disarray. It made me feel ecstatic and inspirational, a lesson of the unconquerable spirit that makes us live on, struggle and recreate even in the darkness. It is, at times, overblown, but still its pure energy and emotional tone make it a strong hymn to hope, sacrifice and an indomitable desire to live.
