Sisu, directed by Jalmari Helander, is a World War II-era historical action thriller. Aatami Korpi is a retired Finnish commando who hunts for gold nuggets in the Finnish Lapland. He decides to sell it in the city after amassing a sizeable sum, but Nazi officer Bruno Helldorf and his men intercept him and seize his wealth. This forces Aatami to revert to his old behaviours, when he was well-known for being a lone murderer. He declares absolute war on Helldorf and his followers in an effort to reclaim his gold, unconcerned about the bloody path he leaves in his wake.
The Jorma Tommila-starring film is a gift for fans of high-octane action and the one-man army cliche in cinema, and it was inspired by the real-life Finnish military sniper Simo Häyhä and the 1982 film “First Blood.” Therefore, if you liked this action story and want to read more like it, we have the ideal suggestions for you. The majority of these films, including “Sisu,” are available to stream on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime!
First Blood (1982)
Undoubtedly at the top of this list is the Ted Kotcheff-directed film “First Blood,” which served as the model for “Sisu.” The central character of the legendary action film starring Sylvester Stallone is John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who is still plagued by horrible wartime memories. He becomes so enraged after being chased out of town by a cruel small-town sheriff that he launches a full-scale attack on the local police force.
Rambo must use his worst traits to defend himself and give those who harmed him a lesson while on the run from the law. As one can see, Rambo’s situation is similar to Aatami’s in “Sisu” in that they are both former soldiers who are attempting to flee a horrible past. They are still the wrong kind of guys to deal with, and once they are forced to abandon their seclusion, they attack their adversaries with all of their might, living up to their previous reputations as killing machines.
Fury (2014)
‘Fury,’ directed by David Ayer, is strikingly similar to ‘Sisu. It is set during World War II and centres on veteran tank commander Wardaddy and his five crew men who are stranded in war-torn Germany. He leads them on an impossible mission to defend a field hospital from the invading Nazi troops despite the overwhelming odds against them.
Wardaddy uses every available means to defeat the Nazis and engages them head-on. Beyond having the Second World War as a common setting, “Fury” and “Sisu” both feature two heroes who are wary of their pasts and fight the Nazis. Wardaddy and Aatami are men of honour who put their missions above their lives and use all available means to assault their enemy, even when their prospects of survival are slim.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Although ‘Inglourious Basterds’ may not be a high-octane action movie like ‘Sisu,’ there are numerous similarities between the two films, including their World War II setting. The movie, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is on a group of Jewish guerrilla fighters who pose as Nazi officials to overthrow the German regime. Unexpectedly, Shosanna Dreyfus, a Jewish immigrant who is also attempting to get revenge for her family’s murder by Nazi soldiers, interferes with their preparations.
The protagonists of “Inglourious Basterds” and “Sisu,” despite not taking place in the same period, share a hatred of the Nazi troops. They are willing to risk their lives for their convictions and to carry out their missions in search of retribution against the enemy who mistreated them, despite the differences in their approaches and motivations.
John Wick (2014)
The action film “John Wick,” directed by Chad Stahelski, depicts the titular character, a former hitman who is forced to resurrect his lethal past self after the Russian mob steals his car and brutally kills his cherished dog. After the vicious assault, John Wick snaps and pursues his assailants with animalistic vengeance, killing anybody who stands in his way.
The character arcs of the characters are strikingly similar to those in “Sisu,” despite the fact that the film takes a different approach to the action vengeance genre. Although John Wick and Aatami are both attempting to distance themselves from their histories as trained killers, once their opponents had wronged them, they both turned to extreme measures to get revenge. In addition to being pitted against a considerably stronger foe, the two one-man army instances are motivated solely by their concealed rage.
Nobody (2021)
Ilya Naishuller’s action thriller “Nobody” centres on Hutch Mansell, a mild-mannered family man who avoids conflict at all costs. But after his wife and kids make fun of him for being submissive during a house invasion, he is driven over the line and begins to act violently. In the Russian mafia, Hutch quickly makes a formidable adversary and is forced to use his violent impulses to defend his family.
Despite the disparate circumstances that are portrayed in “Nobody” and “Sisu,” both films have underdog protagonists with underlying wrath who wish to avoid bloodshed because they are aware that if they do so, the results will be uncertain. However, when faced with grave dangers, they embrace their sinister pasts and shock both their adversaries and the audience.
Polar (2019)
Duncan Vizla, aka The Black Kaiser, one of the most wanted assassins in the world, is attempting to live a tranquil retirement free from bloodshed in Jonas Kerlund’s novel Polar. Sadly, his previous employer has other intentions for him and has him marked as a liability before ordering a hit on him. When Vizla is forced to use his weapons once more to defend himself against a bunch of young and swifter assassins, long-simmering wrath comes to the surface.
When adversaries threaten their current tranquilly, men like Vizla in “Polar” and Aatami in “Sisu” are compelled to revert to their violent previous selves. Additionally, both are notorious for their unrelenting, ruthless methods of eliminating their opponents. Aatami works to safeguard the results of his labour while Vizla is desperately trying to keep his life safe. Both protagonists are like wounded monsters pulled back into carnage because there is so much at risk.
The Equalizer (2014)
Antoine Fuqua’s action-adventure film “The Equaliser” is partially based on the 1980 TV series of the same name. It centres on Robert McCall, a former Special Services Commando who wants to move on from his past. In order to live a peaceful life, he pretends to die. Along the way, he befriends a young girl by the name of Teri.
However, McCall is tempted to go back to his former ways and administer his brand of harsh justice when he witnesses her being mistreated by a deadly Russian gang. While ‘The Equaliser’ is not a war film like ‘Sisu,’ it too portrays a seasoned ex-commando who is pushed out of retirement to fight a merciless foe and defend all he holds dear. Additionally, both films’ action scenes are interesting due to their intensity.
Warhorse: One (2022)
The modern story “Warhorse: One,” directed by Johnny Strong, shares similarities with “Sisu” in terms of the protagonist’s perilous quest and the aspects of conflict. Navy SEAL Master Chief Richard Mirko amazingly survives when his team’s helicopter is shot down in Afghanistan while on a rescue operation. He comes across a young girl as he is still removing missionaries and develops an emotional bond with her.
Mirko, who has a soft spot for the child, decides to take her on a risky trek through the war-torn region while fending off rebel strikes and hostile terrain. Despite the striking differences between the plots of “Sisu” and “Warhorse: One,” both films explore how conflict, both old and new, brings out the worst in people. They also show how the underdog heroes must travel alone through perilous terrain while being pursued by the enemy.
