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.
The Blind Man, aka Norman Nordstrom (Stephen Lang), returns with a new daughter. An orphaned girl, Phoenix (Madelyn Grace), he found after a fire that seemingly killed her family. Soon their home is invaded by a gang of organ dealers who kidnap Phoenix. He sets out to find her by any means necessary.
“Don’t Breathe” has stuck with me since I first saw it in theaters. Naturally, I was excited for a sequel to be released and a chance to return to a character that Stephen Lang has played to perfection. The Blind Man character tiptoes the line between sentimentality and psychopathy in his portrayal of a caring father figure. This sequel leans towards the fan-favorite elements of its predecessor and runs with it in this story. It doesn’t seem to connect itself to the timeline of the first film but does bring back some old ideas from the first film like their dog, Shadow.
The script tends to focus more on hardcore action vs. the horror-themed aesthetic of the first. All the surprises of Norman’s abilities are out of the bag so instead, they show off the extent of those abilities on this unassuming gang of home invaders. The film is also very aware of its own absurdities, and it shows during several scenes, essentially winking at the camera. With the ever-increasing interest in the anti-hero, director Rodo Sayagues cleverly places his villain in the righteous position of the protector causing a whole new interpretation of his violent actions. It is interesting to see the character in a much less cynical place and would be interesting to know if the events are even related to the first film. Nonetheless, this character really embodies the antihero aesthetic very well.
The antagonists are a little hollow this time around. They are set up for a flashy surprise only to fall prey to the pacing of the action. As quickly as some appear, they also fade away before having a chance to dive into their character. Still, that comes as no surprise when action-packed movies require characters to be dealt with and disposed of quickly, especially against the obstacle of time. It’s hard to fault to film when so much was already put into the events leading up to the climax.
“Don’t Breathe” has proven itself to be a successful franchise and has created a fan-favorite character. Despite any logical nitpicks that may be present in the plot, the fast-paced, hyper-violent thrills compensate and demand your attention. This new tone of action lends itself well to being able to portray this new take on The Blind Man that allows the sequel to separate itself from the original. This is in the upper echelon of movie sequels as far as movie sequel rankings go. I eagerly anticipate what comes next from the mind of producer Fede Alvarez and his team.
In Theaters Friday, August 13th
