Don't Breathe 2 Review: Good Components That Are Choked Up By A Ridiculous Story

Release date: August 13, 2021
Running time: 98 minutes
Directed By: Rodo Sayagues
Written By: Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues
Cast: Stephen Lang, Brendan Sexton III, Madelyn Grace, Rocci Williams, Stephanie Arcila, Bobby Schofield

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.

Don't Breathe 2 has the components of a really great horror movie.  The setting and general demeaner of the main character, a quiet, mysterious blind man who is much more dangerous than he appears, is the perfect setup for some tense moments.  There are moments where you will literally be holding your breath (just like the title says) as you anticipate something happening.  And the film uses the main character's blindness and the lack of light in some instances to create some very theatrical aspects of the film.  Either he can't see what is happening or the lights go out and the characters are wondering what will happen next.  And the cast itself do a pretty good job despite the ridiculous story.  Stephen Lang was tough as nails and Brendan Sexton III had a good performance despite being an unlikeable character.  And young Madelyn Grace did a great job of humanizing a lot of this film and adding an emotional component to this horror movie.

And Don't Breathe 2 has some great sets and effects.  The main house is a perfect setup, with just enough nooks and crannies to make for a scary, tense experience.  And the effects of the film are very good, with an emphasis on practical effects to keep the audience engaged.  There are a few instances of CG, but overall the film keeps the CG to a minimum to the benefit of all.

However, despite all the good components that the film has, the overall story is just so ridiculous that I couldn't enjoy it.  The story goes to several very strange places, and revelations that should have been impactful just felt a little weird.  I'm not sure if this ties into the previous film (I have not seen it) but it just made the movie seem a little too unbelievable.  And the film also has some minor touches that just break the suspension of disbelief.  There are a few instances where Lang will have a light on in a scene which just seems strange for a blind person.  And his eyes sometimes follow characters, not much but it seems to happen occasionally.  And the way the film portrays him as an almost daredevil like character is a little off.  And sometimes the movement of the characters will just be unrealistic, even for a horror film.  Characters will move to areas they physically shouldn't have been able to get to, or hide when a person should have clearly seen them.  But in the end, it is the ridiculous story and unsatisfying ending that cause this film to lose some of its luster.  But here's the thing, the components were so good that I would love to see their next project.  

Just Breathe 2 has all the components of a great horror film, with good practical effects and so much tension, but the story is just too ridiculous and some small touches break your suspension of disbelief.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Don't Breathe 2 is in theaters on August 13, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.