SISU (2023)
From Finnish director Jalmari Helander, the same director who gave us RARE EXPORTS (a wonderful Christmas horror film) comes maybe his best film yet: SISU. If you're looking for another action fix after John Wick Chapter 4, this film doesn't hold back. It was playing at only one theater in town, a limited US theatrical release, running for only a short time. After seeing the trailer I knew I had to get out and see this movie before it left theaters.
A brutal and intense action film, Sisu goes to places where most domestic cinema has been too afraid to go. It goes for the throat and doesn't pull its punches. I wouldn't say this movie is for the timid, no, even for someone like me who is used to gore and violence, there were moments here where even I was squirming in my seat. For all of this alone, this movie is a must see. This movie has far more soul and authenticity than the majority of the cookie cutter factory films Hollywood has been putting out for the last few years.
THE SYNOPSIS
Finland. 1944. The Nazis are losing the war and they know it. As they leave occupied Finland they're practicing "scorched earth" on their way out, destroying everything in their wake. A former Finnish commander, discharged from duty, forges into the wilderness in search of gold. On his way back to civilization, hauling a full satchel of gold, the former Finnish commander crosses a small Nazi contingent on their way back to Germany. The Nazis discover what he's carrying and try to take it. The former Finnish commander, without saying a word, tells them, "No."
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Sisu is a brisk 91 minutes that delivers exactly what the trailer promises. There isn't a ton of depth or detail to unpack in this movie. It tells a simple story and does it very well. The word "Sisu" is a Finnish word that roughly translates to: "an indominable will, white-knuckled determination, and an absolute refusal to give up. This movie explores the meaning of Sisu in the most brutal of circumstances.
Descriptions saying that Sisu is the Finnish John Wick are not too far off as this film goes for the throat and makes no apologies. Intense scenes of violence and gore are on full display here. But the movie has a different feel than John Wick, less hyper-kinetic in style than John Wick and capturing more of an old school esthetic.
Sisu felt like a true Spaghetti Western in its pacing, structure, and visual esthetic with a level of violence and action on par with John Wick. In this Spaghetti Western style, Sisu also reminds me of Quentin Tarantino's films, the best of Tarantino's style without all of the Tarantino pretension and self-indulgence (everything I dislike about Tarantino's work). If I could ask, I'd love more "Neo-Spaghetti Western" movies like this. As I was watching I kept wondering what it would be like if Lee Van Cleef was in this movie? What an amazing vision that would be!
Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 2 out of 10 (Man-buns)
Sisu is a wild and intense war movie/spaghetti western/action film that holds nothing back! This movie is destined to be a cult classic and one of the unsung heroes of the era. I loved it and will definitely be adding the movie to the home video collection! I highly recommend seeing it if you can.
For more of my thoughts on action movies, check out these other posts!
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