Written & Directed By: Jalmari Helander
Cinematography: Mika Orasmaa
Editor: Juho Virolainen
Cast: Jorma Tommila, Stephen Lang, Richard Brake, Tommi Korpela, Kaspar Velberg, Paaru Oja, Eriki Laur, Maksim Demidov
Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, “the man who refuses to die” dismantles it, loads it on a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honor. When the Red Army commander who killed his family comes back hellbent on finishing the job, a relentless, eye-popping cross-country chase ensues – a fight to the death.
This sequel film definitely lives up to its title. As the film was unexpected, as I didn’t think that the character had more hardships to go through and yet here it is. It’s pretty much more of the same only it seems to get to the action almost immediately after a brief set up of where we are and what the main character is trying to do.
Like most sequels, this is bigger as at each level he the main character. Sisu is facing more challenges. so that each level is broken up into a chapter and then each chapter it seems he’s facing the same enemy, but only harder and tougher like at first he’s just facing soldiers then in the next level he’s facing tanks and then in the next level, he’s facing planes and so on. So that we can see how each level gets more difficult and challenging. Though mostly it seems lkkenthe stunt men do most of the work. As this is a film meant for them the most.
There’s very little dialogue as our hero. Sisu is mute throughout, which might be meant to remind the audience of THE MAN WITH NO NAME trilogy. As it does have the theme of revenge, but it’s not a western. It’s more an action war film.
This sequel was not needed, but it still has impressive, action and strangely more American actors playing Russians this time around. which I figure offers more name recognition and to broaden the appeal of the film and widen its audience as the first one is more of a cult, action film, and they obviously wanna make this into a franchise.
that would fit the tone of director, Jamari Helander, previous action filled films, such as RARE EXPORTS and BIG GAME
If looking for balls to the wall, action film with some gore, this film is right up your alley as it does serve the kind of hard-core action you rarely see on the big screen anymore. This film was definitely meant to be seen in a movie theater or on the biggest screen as possible.
Grade: C
