Bullet Points: Sisu
By this time next week, the first big action blockbuster of the summer will be in theaters. As the weeks go on, it will be followed by other summer blockbusters, all either sequels or spin-offs of previous summer blockbusters.
This weekend however there is a completely original action movie hitting theaters. That movie is Sisu…
- Gold Rush: Sisu takes place in 1944 as World War II is winding down. Jorma Tommila plays Aatami, a man who is carrying the scars of war both inside and out. When we first see Aatami he has put the war behind him and has started a new life as a gold miner in the Lapland of Finland. He has his dog, his horse and soon a whole bunch of gold!
- Nazi Bastards: On his way to cash in his new found fortune, Aatami crosses path with a squad of Nazi soldiers commanded by Bruno (Aksel Hennie). Bruno’s right hand man Wolf (Jack Doolan) wants to take out “the old gold mining fool” right then and there, but Bruno denies him that pleasure, reminding Wolf that the direction Aatami is traveling is certain death anyway. Certain death probably for anyone else in the world, but not Aatami.
- The Legend: Instead of certain death for Aatami, it ends up being certain death for seven of Bruno’s men who were finishing up their scorched earth work and had yet to catch up with the rest of the squad. Bruno finds out from his commanding officer that Aatami was a Finnish commando with the reputation of being a one man death squad. Bruno’s commanding officer basically tells Bruno to be thankful it was only seven men lost and to get his ass to Norway as planned. Bruno sees things differently, the war is all but over, there’s nothing left for him and his men… except Aatami’s gold! It becomes obvious that Bruno foolishly does not believe the legend that Aatami is practically immortal. Some people have to learn things the hard way and when those people are Nazis, it makes for one entertaining movie.
- Gruesome: I thought I knew what to expect violence and gore wise going into Sisu. Afterall, a guy gets a knife put through his head in the trailer… it turns out that was only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much blood and gore, I can easily see Sisu being one of those action movies that appeals to the die hard horror crowd too.
Sisu was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It is down and dirty. It is filled with unapologetic mayhem. If you have seen the trailer for Sisu, you will know if the movie is for you or not. I will say this however… the trailer was Sisu at around 8 or 9, the movie itself cranks it all the way up to 11.
Let’s crank up and wrap up this review, with some Bonus Bullet Points…
- Double Duty: Sisu was written and directed by Jalmari Helander.
- Chapter 1: The movie is split up into multiple chapters and in the first chapter there is absolutely no dialogue since it is just Aatami digging for gold.
- Man’s Best Friend: I wonder how many action fanatics will be looking to adopt a Bedlington Terrier after watching Sisu.
