Sisu: Road to Revenge Trailer Review: A Blood-Soaked Promise of Epic Vengeance

The trailer for Sisu: Road to Revenge (or Sisu 2, stylized as SI2U) dropped like a landmine, and it’s every bit as explosive as fans of the 2022 cult hit Sisu could hope for. Directed by Jalmari Helander, this sequel brings back Jorma Tommila as Aatami Korpi, the stoic, unkillable Finnish badass who’s less a man and more a force of nature. After the first film’s deliriously gory Nazi-killing spree, the bar was set high, but this red band trailer—released on August 27, 2025—proves Helander is swinging for the fences with bigger stakes, bloodier action, and a deeply personal revenge arc. Here’s why the trailer has me hyped for the November 21, 2025, theatrical release.

A Visceral Setup with Emotional Weight

The trailer opens with a haunting image: Aatami Korpi dismantling his family’s home, the site of their brutal murder during World War II, to rebuild it elsewhere in their honor. Set in 1946 Soviet-occupied Karelia, this isn’t just another action flick—it’s personal. The trailer leans into Korpi’s grief and resolve, with Jorma Tommila’s weathered face and silent intensity carrying the emotional core. The stakes feel higher than the first film’s gold-driven plot, as Korpi’s mission is now about legacy and vengeance, not survival. The line, “They’re saying I lit a fire in you… I will put it out,” delivered by Stephen Lang’s Red Army commander Yeagor, sets up a cat-and-mouse chase that promises to be as brutal as it is cinematic.

Over-the-Top Action That Doesn’t Hold Back

If the first Sisu was “John Wick meets WWII,” Road to Revenge cranks it to Mad Max levels of chaos. The trailer is a two-and-a-half-minute assault of jaw-dropping set pieces: a plane crashing into a truck, Korpi wielding a pickaxe with lethal precision, and a relentless cross-country pursuit through Estonia’s stark landscapes. Helander’s vision is bolder here, backed by a doubled budget of €11 million (about $12.2 million), which shows in the scale of the destruction. The red band trailer doesn’t shy away from gore—think limbs flying, blood spraying, and creative kills that make the original’s landmine stunts look tame. One standout moment: Korpi dodging gunfire while hauling his dismantled home, turning a truck into a weapon of war. It’s absurd, unrealistic, and gloriously fitting for a character dubbed “the man who refuses to die.”

A Worthy Foe in Stephen Lang

Stephen Lang’s casting as Yeagor, the Red Army commander who murdered Korpi’s family, is a stroke of genius. His gravelly voice and menacing presence in the trailer make him a villain who feels like a genuine threat, unlike the disposable Nazis of the first film. The dynamic between two grizzled warriors—Lang’s Yeagor and Tommila’s Korpi—promises a clash of titans. Helander himself noted that Lang’s casting adds balance, with “two older dudes fighting each other” bringing both gravitas and ferocity. Richard Brake’s addition as another antagonist only sweetens the deal, hinting at a rogue’s gallery of baddies for Korpi to mow down.

Helander’s Signature Style Shines

Jalmari Helander’s knack for blending Finnish folklore with grindhouse violence is in full force. The trailer’s cinematography captures Estonia’s bleak, icy vistas, contrasting with the fiery chaos of the action. The sound design, especially in the Atmos-heavy moments, makes every explosion and gunshot feel like a punch to the chest. Helander’s ability to craft “clever, unbelievable action set pieces” is on display, with the trailer teasing moments that feel like a love letter to action fans who crave excess with heart. The pacing suggests a film that’s wall-to-wall chaos, yet the glimpses of Korpi’s quiet determination ground it in that untranslatable Finnish concept of sisu—resilience in the face of impossible odds.

Does It Live Up to the Hype?

The original Sisu won over audiences with its 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and comparisons to Inglourious Basterds for its Nazi-killing glee. This trailer suggests Road to Revenge could top it by going bigger without losing the raw, cult charm. My only concern? The first film’s thin narrative and unrealistic survival feats drew some criticism, and the trailer hints at even more over-the-top moments that might alienate viewers seeking depth. But for those who loved Sisu for its unapologetic excess, this looks like a worthy successor.

Final Thoughts

The Sisu: Road to Revenge trailer is a blood-soaked promise of everything that made the first film a surprise hit: relentless action, a silent hero who speaks through violence, and a director who knows how to make every kill count. With Stephen Lang as a formidable villain and a budget that lets Helander go wild, this sequel feels like a love letter to action junkies. I’m already counting down to its Fantastic Fest premiere in September 2025 and its wide release on November 21. If the trailer’s any indication, Aatami Korpi’s road to revenge will be one hell of a ride.

What did you think of the trailer? Let me know in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to release!