I call these "hero horror", where it's basically a slasher movie where the slasher is the good guy

I'm a 38 year old Finnish man who went to see this in the movies with my 70 year old dad. The last movie we saw together was the Matrix. After this one, we just looked at each other and nodded...

And the best part? No extended universe, no glorified cameos, no crossover easter eggs. Just a simple 'balls to the wall' action flick. Beautiful.

Koshai is the embodiment of the saying “Beware of an old man in a profession where men die young”

Sisu embodies the saying "fight me if you must, but I'm old for a reason"

The fact that the hero refuses to die and acts like an actual man makes him one of the greatest action heroes.

Far fetched action, fun over-the-top violence, not much dialogue. Definitely worth a watch.

Glad to see Finnish movie getting more recognition. As Finnish I feel really proud to witness this even though our niche movie making scenery.

The Hero didn't cry or moan or emo. Just pure grit and determination. A call back to those old silent male heroes. Pure will, focus and determination.

This film brought to mind a story of my grandfather's father who in the (Finnish) Civil War was captured by the Communists and taken to a prison camp. He asked to go to the outhouse. While there, he lifted up the toilet "seat" and pushed the tower of frozen excrement off his way, crawling to freedom through the potty hole. Then ran back home. True sisu.

If I wanted something realistic I'd watch a documentary, this is exactly what I needed. It was glorious!

Sisu was such a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed every second of it!

The current state of Hollywood has really taught us to appreciate anything good to its fullest.

In short, Finnish John Wick. Enough said. Go see it.

the coolest thing about this movie imo is that its only 6 million dollars. i love when a tiny budget movie finds great success cus it proves to the industry that you do not need 250million + on every movie they make ( and they still look like shit somehow ) to be entertaining.

This movie is like the lovechild of John Wick but directed by Tarantino in Inglorious Basterds style. Also the best part is when he threw the mine into the soldiers face like a clown throwing a pie 😂

Sisu might not change the whole film industry but it sure will revolutionize the finnish film industry thanks to its budget, box office and critical praise. As a Finn I'm still mindboggled how a FINNISH action film was a success especially overseas.

This reminds me of a real life story of a Finnish soldier who literally got lost in the wild with his squad's supply of methamphetamines and went on a drug filled rampage that lasted several days against the soviets who ended up being afraid of him being some kind of a monster instead of a regular man.

Vacationing with my 86 year old dad, he saw an ad for this film. We got it and watched it 3 times in the last 7 days... Watching the Drinker review, I want to go for round 4 already! This is such a fun film. I never thought I'd be laughing about a guy getting hit in the head with a landmine, but there it is, and I laughed hysterically!

How can a film be gritty, grounded AND over the top? this one was very special, loved every moment of it, the desolation, sheer hopelessness and badassery.

I go to the movies with my dad sometimes. he's 77 years old, went to Vietnam, fought in Biker gangs, and was a trucker for 40 years, so most of what comes out nowadays doesn't vibe with him. I took him to see this and he couldn't stop laughing and even did some cheering here and there. Come to think of it, so did a few other people in our showing. It was just a really nice experience to see everyone in the theatre being vocal and having fun, and its always nice to see dad kind of come alive so to speak. What a fun movie.

Sisu is basically the current culmination of what Jalmari Helander (the director) and Jorma Tommila (the main actor) have been doing together for about two decades now. From tiny indie short films to bigger (but still very indie) multi million productions, they all share these similar over the top qualities and Jorma Tommila's angry, brooding, juggernaut-like character. You should give them a watch, Drinker.

This was by far the most fun I had in the movie since Top Gun: Maverick. Wishing more of these types of action movies where the playing time (1 h 31 min) was the perfect length. Lots of good things to say about Sisu.

When we saw the trailer for Sisu, my daughter & I both said "we need to see this when it comes out" ... and we did. No regrets! Would see it again in a heartbeat! Everyone we told to see it love it and agree: 100% Hit! Box Office Boffo!

The lead actor, Jorma Tommila, really seems to have fun with his roles. He is also in a Christmas action film from 2010 called Rare Exports. The premise of that movie is that some international treasure hunter types come digging in Finland trying to find the remains of the mythological Santa Claus, which they do, but turns out Santa and his elves are ancient troll-like entities that kill people and eat children, and it's up to a group of local reindeer herders to stop them from getting free.

Another reminder that not only Hollywood makes movies. They're basically a punchline at this point

As an American, i miss movies like the old Rambo or Schwarzenegger action films. You've just introduced something to me that I know without a doubt I'm gonna have to give a look.

This film is just genius, I watched this when I had nothing else to watch and it was old fashioned action.

What I liked about the character was that he lived away from everything, and all he had was himself and his search for gold. He had no reason or need for the gold since it was only him, his dog, and his horse. He was doing what he wanted to do, and when people came along and tried to take that simple desire away from him, he let them know that it was a mistake. In my opinion, the world needs more men with grit like the main character.

Sisu was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had in the movie theater this year. Its nice to see a film about human resilience and persistence without a character whining about victimhood and marginalization.

Oh man thanx for highlighting SISU! This was such a breath of fresh air amongst Hollywood garbage! As a Finn sisu is lives in me/us and it was so much fun to see a niche part of our culture represented. In the movie there are fantastical elements sure, but in the end it's the story and the acting that truly make this movie. I have not met a single person who did not love this movie! I have been following you for a long time, so keep up Drinker! We appreciate your honesty! * MaCallan 18 cheers*

I LOVED THIS MOVIE. It's now one of my favorite action movies

Sisu is the unknown strength and determination we have that we tap into to carry ourselves through struggles and hardships. Can't wait to see this film.

Sisu is also often used to describe Finlands Armed Forces. "Sisu is a unique Finnish concept. It is a Finnish term that can be roughly translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. Sisu is not momentary courage, but the ability to sustain that courage. It is a word that cannot be fully translated."

I watched it, based on your recommendation (THANK YOU!), and it was a good one! Some of it REALLY pushed the border of suspension of disbelief. Thanks for the review!

Just watched this upon your recommendation. I was thoroughly impressed. Might just watch it again, immediately.

My grandparents are Finnish descent, and the Sisu is real. My grandpa mined copper for 20 years while raising 5 kids in basically the woods. When the kids were grown, the mine shut down, so he moved and started building AC units for helicopters. Where’d he learn how to do that? Don’t know! Just fucking got after it. Was an absolute legend.

If Old School Finnish death metal was a movie, it would have been SISU.

What a great movie. I haven't seen a movie like this in quite awhile. So simplistic yet I couldn't stop watching it even with the far fetched plot. Highly recommend.

Fantastic action movie! Incredible scenery, stunning shots and soundtrack (when needed!)! Loved it

I'm not going to lie, his motivation is so relatable. All of us want that one momment where you (in this case literally) strike gold. And if someone tries to take it away from you, you'd fight with everything you have to keep it.

This movie was an absolute blast to see in Finland because the actor of Aatami Korpi is a very well known stage actor. He's very much liked by people over the age of 60. I went to the theater and saw a lot of ladies around that age, and I bet they had NO idea what kind of a movie they'd come to see :D I lift my hat for them though, because none of them left the theater even though there were quite a few gasps and exclamations. I guess the old ladies just survived through the movie with their own sisu :'D EDIT: also the name Aatami Korpi roughly translates to Adam Wilderness/Backwoods, which is pretty fitting for this man.

When I saw the trailer for the first time, I described it to a friend as part 'Inglorious Basterds' and part 'John Wick'. It didn't disappoint when I saw it.

Got a good friend who is Finnish and is going to be in town soon. He recommended this movie and I can't wait to watch it with him!

My family heritage is Finnish. I named my first dog Sisu because she was tough and refused to die. She survived several issues that should have killed her but kept going. Heart disease finally took her at 13 years old. I’m excited to see this movie. I have a feeling my dog would be proud to share the same name as this film.

I've been watching a lot of foreign films and it's damn refreshing. They have their weaknesses but by and large, I feel like my time is better spent.

Just watched it. I have to say thank you, without your recommendation I probably would never have even heard of this gem. This is what an action movie should be, wow. Holy crap. And, yeah they had a "girl power" moment and you know what? It fit perfectly with the movie and was NOT "the message" being pushed down your throat. Man, what a ride. Thanks!

watching this right now. thanks for this rec

Im so glad a good finnish movie is getting global recognition.

I'm Finnish and love that this masterpiece is getting such worldwide recognition. It is even better if you understand Finnish culture, which ties into some of the themes in the film, e.g. Aatami not talking at all until the very end is based on a Finnish stereotype of us being very quiet and reserved, and also of course understanding the concept of "Sisu".(which was explained perfectly in this video). Thank you Jordan for reviewing this film.

This film is why competition is a good thing. Audiences want good films that don’t preach to us. If Hollywood doesn’t want to do it, other movie makers across the world will. This movie is a good example of this. I am looking forward to watching Sisu.

I saw the movie, what a fantastic and awesomely simple premise for a film. Sort of a psychotic version of Indiana Jones. Never separate a man from his gold!

The moment I saw the title I knew it would be awesome. Finland has an insane sense of humour.

As a finnish filmmaker, it's nice to see this one held up as a sample of a good action. Haven't seen it yet myself, but gonna put it on our local theater some time soon :)

some streaming service recommended this to me the other day. You just talked me into watching it!

I liked this more than I thought I would. The action was great, the characters held my interest, and there are some truly dark laugh-out-loud moments. While some of the ending was as over-the-top as a Fast and Furious movie, the tongue-in-cheek approach and the way the movie doesn’t insult one’s intelligence makes it hugely enjoyable rather than remarkably tedious.

0:55 The scorched earth tactics are actually against the Finns in 1944 when the condition of Finland leaving the war was expelling all German troops as 'requested' by the Soviets. This was called the Lapland War. The Wehrmacht had anticipated this turn of events and planned an organised withdrawal to German-occupied Norway, as part of Operation Birke (Birch). Despite a failed offensive landing operation by Germany in the Gulf of Finland, the evacuation proceeded peacefully at first. The Finns escalated the situation into warfare on 28 September after Soviet pressure to adhere to the terms of the armistice. After a series of minor battles, the war came to an effective end in November 1944, when all of the German troops had reached Norway or the border area and took fortified positions.

I'd love to see a modern film about Simo Haya, or just the Winter War in general. These guys seem to know what they're doing.

I was finally able to watch this today when it was released where I live. It was beautiful!

Thank you, Drinker!! I missed this at the movie house but will watch it streaming when the price goes down a bit. I can't wait!! I love Finns!!!

My God. This looks so insane! And the fact that a low budget movie shot in the middle of nowhere with no dialogue puts Hollywood movies to shame is astounding. 😆

Thank you non-Hollywood film makers for delivering an art form that we so desperately need. I never thought I would say this about an action film but it brings me a sigh of relief to see not every filmmaker is out to make shite.

The T-55 and DShK immediately got my back up.... but then I realised it was basically a live action commando comic, chilled out and enjoyed the ride

Loved this film! And have a strange connection to the subject matter - my grandfather's brother discovered gold in the aftermath of Lapland War (1944-1945), and a (small) second gold rush to Finnish Lapland followed. I like to think this is at least in some part inspired by my great-uncle's discovery, though I doubt he was nearly as badass as Aatami.

So as a 56 year old Finnish guy that’s been round the world for a few decades - thank you for covering this movie - makes me believe there are still some fun people out there 😊

Glad to see the Finns still know how to deliver a good movie. Too bad Hollywood has buried itself in its own hubris.

Thank you this is the kind of gem i needed

Something that not enough people talk about in this movie is the cinematography. Every shot is intentional and has a purpose. The one word I could use to describe this movie when I left the theater was “Anticipation.” Every shot would hang on just long enough, and then BAM the action was quick, satisfying and visceral. There’s so many moments in this movie where the Nazis are just… waiting, trying to anticipate what this guys next move is, and then he acts so fast they don’t have enough time to react to it. But the shot composition is so sublime that we, the audience, are anticipating right along with them.

Went to see this with my father when it came to theaters here in Finland. It's quite good: fun action not to be taken too seriously. The humour is pretty Finnish as well. The cinematography and soundscape was good. Glad to hear others enjoyed it as well.

Sisu didn't only train John Wick. He also trained Hardcore Henry.

I like Jelmari Helander (the director) so I went to the theatre to watch this with no questions asked. Great decision on my part there. If you liked this film and you've never seen his Christmas/Horror flick 'Rare Exports' you should definitely give it a go. Same protagonist actor in both.

Now this is a Barry Stu i can get behind for 90 minutes!

Sisu immediately made it into my top ten favorite movies. I absolutely love when an actor can say so much without speaking at all just through facial expressions.

Sisu, the movie, is supposed to "border on the supernatural" because that's exactly what SIsu is. It's that ability to reach down deep in your soul and grab onto something that just can't be described or explained. Yeah, you don't quit. You show tenacity and grit. More than that, though, is the spiritual element that fuels you long after you should have burned out. Sisu is the manifestation of the divine warrior. In the movie, Sisu isn't fighting to recover his gold. While that seems the case, it's only the most trivial part. The real motivation is righteous vengeance against those who did wrong by him. It's about justice. He worked hard for that gold and someone took it from him without legal or moral authority. The bad guys represent the schoolyard bully just as much as they do the boot of government, petty bureaucrats, jumped up office employees basking in their perceived power even when they're nothing more than a HR monkey. Sisu represents the rage so many feel at being done wrong by those supposedly 'in charge'. Sisu is the rage that boils in us all, aching to lash out and destroy the wicked, to cleanse the world of the cancer around us. That's why it resonates with people so much. It's a movie that speaks to the Everyman. It's an expression of the anger simmering deep down in the core of good men everywhere who are tired of the wokeness and the blatant lies, the politicians laughing as they know they can do whatever they want and get away with the most egregious behavior. Sisu is what happens when folks have had enough, when they're tired of alway giving ground to a voracious enemy who just won't stop. That's why the movie grabs your attention. The spirit of sisu is calling, and it's only a matter of time before the call is answered.

It was such a fun watch !!!! Loved it

Just watched it. Absolutely loved it

Saw Sisu without watching the trailers only hearing that it was basically John Wick if he killed Nazis and it was sick. It’s basically a show don’t tell masterclass with some really over the top moments and no shortage of brutal kills. Heard there might be a sequel which I hope is not true cause I think it works well as a stand alone film.

It sounds like watching Sisu is like finding a hammer with a nice hickory handle in a hardware store. It doesn't plug in, it's not trendy, it won't win awards But it's just what you need if it's what you were wanting.

This looks awesome! Thanks drinker!

Saw this last night and it’s the most entertaining film I have seen in ages.

This film made me laugh more than any recent comedy. It's the perfect combination of glorious ridiculousness.

I saw this movie two weeks ago and I have a blast. This movie is like John Wick meets Inglorious Bastards.

Can’t wait to see this, looks f’ing awesome 🤟🏻

This is the King of Action Movies, When the Drinker was born, he cut his own umbilical cord. You are legend! Thank You. Immensely.

As a cinema nerd from Finland i gotta tell you, our movie scene went downhill FAST from the late nineties... Hopefully this international recognition of SISU will inspire everyone else to get their shit together too!

An action movie ... like it was meant to be. No needless drama or whining about how hard it is to be a hero. No silly love story ... just the hero, an objective ... and things to kill in all sorts of glorious over the top ways between those two. Why can't we have more of this Hollywood ? I think John Wick is the only one that ever came close to that classic 80's action movie style that didn't attempt to be more than it knew it was.

I had a great uncle that tough. He was a bare knuckle fighter back in the Great Depression. That man had more toughness in his pinky toe than all of the entire Millennial generation.

Watched it last Saturday, such good fun with some pretty creative kills throughout

As a child of the 80's, I miss and appreciate this type of fare.

I was all in with this movie before the trailer was even halfway over. This is exactly the type of film I wish Hollywood was still capable of making.

Finally got to see this today. Spot on.

Totally agree. I saw this last night as part of the Sydney Film Festival and was not only so glad they included it in the selection it f***king rocked! Another perfect example too of show don't tell storytelling.

I saw the word "sisu" and knew exactly what this movie is. It's a singular Finnish word that doesn't quite translate to other languages the right way. It's just sisu. My grandmother used to describe the line of strong Finnish women in our family. Makes me smile.

Thanks for covering this movie! As a Finn it´s unrealism of the protagonist refusing to die is kind of a satirical take on the Finnish word "Sisu" which translates to "perseverance in the face of any adversity". So he has so much Sisu in him that he cannot die, his determination alone keeps him alive! Edit: I see you covered this word in your video so I will go a little deeper why I think it´s a satirical take on it. There is this saying (more prevalent now with the boomer generation born after the war.) in Finland which goes:"Sisulla siitä selviää!" Which means:"Just have some determination and do it!". So by saying it you are just minimizing whatever the issue is and not really giving any valid answers to the problem. Of course it´s good to have perseverance in life but some ignorant people use the word "Sisu" to just staying ignorant and not really thinking about what the real issue is. So in this movie I think the main character exemplifies what the boomer generation means with it: Just be a superhuman and you´ll get through anything. I hope my point came across, English is my second language.

You put the meaning of SISU in words of english. Respect. Guts to never give up, whatever the odds. And much more than that! Finland as we know would'nt exist today if there was no SISU. I hope it will persist to generations to come!

There is beauty in simplicity. Sometimes simplicity can be all that is needed for a story/entertainment piece, I must admit the trailers didn't give me that "got to see it" feel when it comes to this movie, but your review makes me think I may check it out once it comes onto a streaming service. - There really is so much stuff out there that I have no interest in checking out for various reasons, and some of it is indeed due to "the message" especially when the message was always flawed/one sided from the very beginning.

I called him "Grampa Wick" The movie IS a lot of fun, but I think it was perfectly done. gorgeous cinematography, great sound, gory but amazingly well done visual effects, characters were simple but good Definitely feels like it had a budget of over 1 mil. My favorite line was when they called him "Immortal", and the girl says: " He's not immortal, he just refuses to die". just brilliant.

I illustrate movie posters for a living. This was one I was part of pitching on. To do that I had to watch a screener of it. Going into this with no expectations was the most fun movie experience I have had in years. It went from "this is compelling and beautifully shot," to "well this is intense," to "what the actual eff am I watching." So satisfying in the end.

This movie was incredible. Definitely in a top ten list...of all time. So simple and brutal, but I enjoyed every damn minute.

Loved every minute of this film 👍