SCREEN SHOT - Sisu ( 2022 )

On one level all that could be said about this film, is that it is bloody gory. This film will not be for the faint hearted. It has a similar mode of operation as a John Wick movie, in that it is really a sequence of carefully orchestrated set piece instances of utter hilarious carnage. And it is unsparing, heads get blown to pieces, land mines explode in someone's face, knives are thrust straight through someone's cranium. Yes, it is all patently ridiculous, as cod as the German accents, but a mischievous tongue is being firmly held here. This film will cause a few chuckles at the absurdly grisly lengths to which it will go. If you are looking for carefully drawn characters or want to understand their motivations in going on a killing spree, then please look away now.  The many ways explored of executing and slaughtering, are done here entirely for comedic effect. And it is quite often laugh out loud fun to watch. As cartoon violence often is.

The film is set in Finland, near the end of the war. The Nazi's are in retreat, but are executing a scorched earth policy as they make their way to leave. The film opens with a man digging holes in a landscape, he's looking for gold, whilst the planes fly over on their way to fire bomb a city into dust. One day he does find gold, life transforming mega amounts of gold. He packs up that gold and sets off on his horse to cash in his haul. He encounters Nazi's on the way, but makes very short shrift of them, and leaves a grim catalogue of mutilated bodies behind him. And so this is how the film goes on. 

The Nazi's want revenge, which only grows more intense when they discover just how much gold the man has on him. But they don't yet know that this is Korpi, a Finish assasin who is renowned for being unrelenting in his pursuit once his anger is raised. Is he immortal, or just good at evading death? Because there are repeated times in Sisu when you would think this man was a complete gonna, but comes back yet again on his mission of seeking revenge. Dialogue here is brief and perfunctory.

Whilst this film is not remotely attuned to being subtle or nuanced, the director Jalmari Helender knows exactly what he is aiming at here and pulls it off with aplomb. He is fortunate in having Jormma Tomilla playing the lead Korpi, without his 'man with no name' taciturn abilities, this film would not have enough to hold your emotional attention. Gore is never enough, you need at least to be rooting for Korpi, And you do. There is a sequel from 2025 which I suspect Hubby will be itching to watch before too long.

CARROT REVIEW - 5/8