Don’t Breathe 2 – Movie Review (3/5)

DON’T BREATHE 2 is the horror-thriller sequel to the 2016 hit movie. The storyline is rather simple but efficient so the plot does work. However, it feels like more of the same. Which is fine but it could have been better. Read our full Don’t Breathe 2 review here!

DON’T BREATHE 2 is the long-anticipated horror-thriller sequel. The first movie came out in 2016, so it’s been quite the wait for fans of Don’t Breathe. That original movie by Fede Alvarez did turn out to be quite the surprise mega-hit, so it seemed obvious that a sequel would be made. The plot and storyline just needed to make sense and this one does.

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The first time we covered Don’t Breathe when the trailer came out in 2016 >

Also, don’t miss the mid-credit scene which might be a hint for Don’t Breath 3 which would surely draw in viewers as well.

Continue reading our Don’t Breathe 2 review below.

Who’s the girl in Don’t Breathe 2?

While Don’t Breathe is essentially all about “The Blind Man” character played by Stephen Lang, we see a lot of people wondering about the young girl in Don’t Breathe 2. And yes, all will be explained in this movie, so you will know who the young girl is.

The Don’t Breathe 2 storyline is all about how The Blind Man lives as a recluse with just his gorgeous Rottweiler, Shadow, and a young girl. If you remember the first movie, this old blind guy was ready to go the very extreme lengths to get a new daughter. He had lost his only daughter and was looking to “make a new one”. Yeah, it’s as nasty as it sounds!

Anyway, in this sequel, The Blind Man now has a daughter. However, from the opening scene, we know that he finds her at a very young age. She’s lying on the ground outside a burning house. So, while you will get to know exactly who this girl is, the basic plot revolves around the fact that we know she isn’t his biological (or even legal) daughter.

Stephen Lang as The Blind Man

I love Stephen Lang (The Seventh Day) in these movies. He’s perfect as being a total badass that you can’t really like, but also can’t help but be impressed by. In some ways, Don’t Breathe 2 is clearly meant to be a redemption story of sorts for him. I do not buy that for a second. It’s all too easy and feels forced.

The young girl is portrayed by newcomer Madelyn Grace. She’s been in various TV series in guest roles (including zombie series Z Nation) and does a stellar job as “Phoenix” in this movie. Yes, of course, her name is Phoenix as The Blind Man found her outside a burning house.

Other key characters are played by Fiona O’Shaughnessy, who was brilliant in the Nina Forever title role, and Brendan Sexton III, who is always awesome as playing a total douchebag villain (ie. in Boys Don’t Cry). Just like the first movie, the storyline has some brutal plot twists along the way. Sadly realistic, I’m afraid, and extremely tough to watch play out.

Watch Don’t Breathe 2 in theaters and On-Demand

The director for Don’t Breathe 2 is Rodo Sayagues in his directorial debut. Fede Alvarez – the writer and director from the first movie – is still on board as producer and screenwriter. In fact, Rodo Sayagues and Fede Alvarez wrote both the first movie and this sequel together, so it is very much a joint effort. In general, the two always work together.

They also did on the Evil Dead (2013) reboot. Up next for the two filmmakers; They came up with the story for the upcoming 2021 Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie on Netflix. The screenplay and directing are handled by others though, so they’re “only” responsible for the basic plot and storyline.

In between the two movies in the Don’t Breathe horror franchise (we’re expecting that Don’t Breathe 3 movie to be announced any day now), Fede Alvarez has kept busy with other genre productions. He directed the Lisbeth Salander movie The Girl in the Spider’s Web and created (wrote and directed) the awesome Apple TV+ series Calls.

DON’T MISS OUT ON

Our review of the Apple TV+ series Calls which is very bingeworthy >

If you enjoyed the first Don’t Breathe movie, then obviously you need to check out this sequel as well. Be ready for a few surprises but also more of the same – for better or worse, depending on how you like your movies.

Don’t Breathe 2 was released in theaters on August 13, 2021, and On-Demand from September 3, 2021.

Details

In Theaters: August 13, 2021
On Demand: September 3, 2021
Director: Rodo Sayagues
Writers: Rodo Sayagues, Fede Alvarez
Stars: Stephen Lang, Madelyn Grace, Brendan Sexton III, Fiona O’Shaughnessy, Stephanie Arcila, Bobby Schofield, Diaana Babnicova, Adam Young, Christian Zagia, Rocci Williams