Don't Breathe 2

Most sequels to films are typically fraught with inconsistencies, along with a banal script in which you could easily mouth the words, but I must say, even though "Don't Breathe" wasn't an Academy Award stunner, it was a film that certainly kept its audience's attention. And after seeing "Don't Breathe 2", the same intensity and the the thrilling aspects of it are the same if not better as its predecessor.

Hiding out for years in an isolated cabin, a blind Navy Seal veteran, Norman Nordstrom (Stephen Lang) has taken in and raised a young girl Phoenix (Madelyn Grace) orphaned from a house fire. Their quiet existence is shuttered when a group of kidnappers including Raylan (Brendan Sexton III), Duke (Rocci Williams), Jared (Bobby Schofield), Jim Bob (Adam Young) and Raul (Christian Zagia), show up and with great difficulty, end up up taking the girl, forcing Norman to leave his safe haven and implement his military training to save her.

Others to round out the cast are Stephanie Arcila as Hernandez, Fiona O'Shaughnessy as Josephine, Steffen Rhodri as the Surgeon, Diaana Babnicova  as Billy and Ron Rogell as Market Manager. 

This was intensely directed by Rodo Sayagues. This is this filmmaker's first time helming a film, but sense he co-wrote this with his writing partner, Fede Alvarez, who actually directed the original, it's easy to conclude that the feel of this direction would be similar to that of its predecessor. He must have 'soaked up' all that Alvarez could show him when they collaborated on the original, and it paid off. He put the 'I' in intense and the audience could see it emitting from these actors. It was cleverly written by Alvarez ("Evil Dead" '13, "Don't Breathe" '16, "The Girl in the Spider's Web" '18) plus TV and shorts, and Sayagues ("Evil Dead" '13, "Don't Breathe" '16) plus TV and shorts, based on characters created by Alvarez and Sayagues. This story certainly is meatier than its predecessor in that it gives the audience something more to sink their teeth into than just a bunch of thugs invading his space and he has to thwart them off using his military training. This film certainly covers that territory, however, not to give any spoilers, it definitely goes deeper of why and how things go awry. Other than a few places of choppiness in script, this story definitely gives a one two punch (pun intended). This certainly reached farther than the original for story development. 

If suspense and a thrilling aspect with a certain amount of gore is your thing, this will be the perfect fit. The film is rated R for a reason--not for the mass audience appeal, but all in all, the message of 'what you sow, you shall reap' is evident here. And there is a small surprise after the end credits, so will there be a "Don't Breathe 3"?

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                           Rated: R                                                98mins.