When I say that this is an absolute blast, I do mean it literally.

The writer-director Jalmari Helander invests the set-pieces with a welcome air of Looney Tunes absurdity, somehow neutralising the horror of mass murder.

This larger-scaled sequel almost inevitably lacks some of the freshness that made the original such a kick. Still, the director’s undeniable flair for gleefully excessive mayhem and propulsive pacing will more than satisfy those who loved its predecessor.

The sequel to the excellent action film directed by Jalmari Helander proves that the purest, most quintessential techniques and storytelling can serve the purposes of spectacle, entertainment, lightheartedness, and —truly— great cinema.