Summary: The sequel is set in the years following the initial deadly home invasion, where Norman Nordstrom (Stephen Lang) lives in quiet solace until his past sins catch up to him.
Read my review for Don’t Breathe.
This will be a short review.
Pros:
The Acting. I think for the most part, all of the actors do a good job. Stephan Lang as the Blind Man is great because he’s still quite scary and menacing but there is also a softness about him when he’s dealing with Phoenix. Madelyn Grace as Phoenix does a good job too, I didn’t find her annoying, until a little later but it wasn’t because the acting but because of the story lol. Brendan Sexton III as Raylan was also pretty good, he was menacing in his own right as well.
Tension. Just like in the first one, I think this movie does a great job with building tension and then delivering one it, kind of lol. I was on the edge of the my seat (figuratively) during the fight scenes and/or the scenes where people are stalking each other down hallways, and of course the scene with the Blind Man in the water.
The Story. The first half of the movie is the stronger half, the survival, “hide and seek” aspect work better than the latter half. The second twist (I count two) happens in the latter half of the film and it’s outrageous but the first half of the story works better overall.
Cons:
The story. I think the first half is stronger than the second half, because it just feels like two different movies lol. I have issue in general with the existence of the story but I feel like they took a big swing and it doesn’t quite connect. Besides, what we learn later in the film, it may be kind of predictable once you get past the first twice, I mean, I did figure it out, but it’s pretty horrible and kind of ruined what I might have enjoyed previously.
The Blind Man. So, what I think this movie tries to do is change a character who basically ends up being pretty villainous in his first outing, to make him a hero and in ways, they kind of succeed but at the same time, it doesn’t work for me. I cannot forget what happened AND I read that they planned on having Jane Levy’s character from the first movie appear, but scheduling conflicts I think. But, this man isn’t a good man and I don’t think this movie redeems him either. Even though they try. I think even what happens with Phoenix is pretty bad too even though you can try to argue who is worse, Norman (The Blind Man) or the other people. It causes some grey moral issues and I couldn’t get with it. If it wasn’t a sequel, it might have worked out better.
Overall, it’s hard to talk about this movie because it’s conflicting. I don’t like that they wanted to “redeem” the Blind Man, when I don’t think it’s possible personally. The movie is on my worst of the year list because of the simple fact that they took a huge risk and I don’t think it paid off. I don’t think the movie is “horrible”, but for a sequel that didn’t need to exist, it doesn’t sit in the field as it’s predecessor personally. I think the acting is good, particularly from Lang and Grace but the thugs are for sure silly. I think it does a good job with the tension and kind of doing what it did in the first movie, using the blind man’s blindness for surprises and shock but as the story goes, it starts to get silly and makes less sense. I think the third act really ruins the film. Also, the ending seems to be open ended for a possible third movie? I don’t think that’s necessary. Please don’t lol. In the end, Don’t Breathe 2, isn’t offensive but I feel like, it didn’t have to follow the blind man again, it could have been more of an anthology thing instead of a direct sequel. If you’re into the first movie and just want to see the story continued, I guess you can check this out lol. You might have a good time.
Rating: 2.5 out 5 stars.
Have you seen Don’t Breathe 2? If so, what are your thoughts? Did you like the first one? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!
Speak Now Storyteller 