Screen Gems, Stage 6 Films, Ghost House Pictures and Bad Hombre’s Don’t Breathe 2 (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; A) is a sequel to Don’t Breathe (2016).
Eight years after the event of Don’t Breathe, blind Norman Nordstrom (Stephen Lang; retired Navy Seal veteran) lives with 11-year-old Phoenix (Madelyn Grace) and his dog, Shadow, in a suburb of Detroit. A gangster, Raylan (Brendan Sexton III), attempts to kidnap Phoenix, with his gang members. Raylan succeeds despite a tough fight by Phoenix and Norman. Raylan tells Phoenix that he is her biological father. He even introduces her to her mother (Fiona O’Shaughnessy) although Phoenix has grown up believing that her mother had died in a fire.
Is Raylan really Phoenix’s father? Then who is Norman Nordstrom? Why has Raylan kidnapped Phoenix?
Fred Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues have written a story and screenplay, which move on a single track. Per se, that would not have been a problem but the fact that it gets monotonous after a point of time is the culprit. Another minus point is that Norman Nordstrom is shown to be capable of doing just about anything in spite of being blind. The biggest drawback of the screenplay is that the audience does not know whom to root for — Norman Nordstrom or Raylan. Because of this, the drama loses much of its impact, and the effect of the thrills gets diluted.
Stephen Lang is good as blind man Norman Nordstrom. Madelyn Grace (as Phoenix) acts with utmost confidence. Brendan Sexton III is quite good as Raylan. Fiona O’Shaughnessy (as Phoenix’s mother) is very effective. Stephanie Arcila leaves a mark as Hernandez. Adam Young (as Jim-Bob), Rocci Williams (as Duke), Christian Zagia (as Raul), Bobby Schofield (as Jared) and Diaana Babnicova (as Billie) lend fair support.
Rodo Sayagues’ direction is ordinary. He has not been able to take care of the shortcomings of the script. Roque Baños’ background music is fair. Pedro Luque’s cinematography is good. Production designing (by David Warren) is of a fine order. Jan Kovac’s editing should’ve been tighter. Dubbing is nice.
On the whole, Don’t Breathe 2 is not half as exciting as it ought to have been and it will, therefore, not be able to do anything worthwhile at the box-office. The lockdown restrictions on cinema seating and show timings, and the fear of the Coronavirus third wave will also adversely affect the film’s box-office collections.
Released on 17-9-’21 all over except in Maharashtra, Assam and Kerala. Publicity & opening: dull. ……..The original English version has also released simultaneously.