Nie oddychaj 2

A sequel that literally nobody asked for, but when it was announced, we were actually all looking forward to it because the first one was a blast, a nice revival of the genre that managed to entertain in an original way. But that can't be said for the second one. The first half runs like clockwork and thanks to the constant load of action you don’t get bored, but as the film continues into the second, it starts to drag. In between, when there is too much story going on, you realise how many things don't actually make sense, often being beyond the edge of reality, and the final action set-piece does nothing to save the film, as it can’t match the level of the first half. Stephen Lang is still a tough guy for his age, the main storyline isn't bad, some of the murders are quite good and bloody, while others are terribly sterile and out of frame, which I don't really understand... It was also a good move by the film to put a war veteran in the role of anti-hero, where in the first installment we wanted him dead, but here we more or less root for him, even though we learn some unpleasant things from his past. All in all, an inoffensive flick from which we expected more, and for fans of the first one it's rather a step backwards, but it's more than enough to kill an evening. (10.09.2021)

The first Don’t Breathe was interesting and surprising. The second one is merely morbidly amusing. The best part of the film is its cast and the image of a group of ultra-assholish bad guys. You’ll literally look forward to them dying. The point comprising “who is who and what is he doing” is cleverly (and skilfully) concealed, but after it’s revealed, it seems awkward and over the top. The brutality releasing hatred is enormous, as if we are witnessing the birth of a new “viothriller” (violent thriller) sub-genre. The blind uncle’s abilities in the new setting are laughably metaphysical for viewers capable of at least a bit of thought. But he’s also going to get beat down, so why be surprised? What’s bizarre about the film is the effort at relativization of the boundaries between good and evil, unfortunately in a cheap B-movie kind of way.  **1/2 (18.09.2021)

On its own, Don’t Breathe 2 would be a solid genre addition – well made, bleak, and very gritty for today's genre competition – but I have one major problem with it, namely that it doesn't make sense as a sequel to the excellent first film. In terms of the emotional pretensions related to the strange shift around the character of the villain, or this time (anti-)hero, it would make sense as a prequel, but as a sequel it just doesn't. (04.09.2021)

Blind tough guy Stephen Lang has improved since last time and now he's kicking ass for the good guys, and he has to beat, choke, chop up and otherwise murder a bunch of drug dealers who kidnapped a girl he cares about. Don’t Breathe 2 is less ambitious than the first film and is basically a rather impressive, atmospheric and bloody slasher with an unexpectedly unpleasant atmosphere, but nothing more. If that's enough for you, you'll be satisfied, because rookie director Rodo Sayagues has mastered his craft. Any greater ambition, however, was clearly not on the set. (06.09.2021)

Don't Breathe 2 is a bit of a pointless sequel that nobody needed, but luckily it came out in a time of a horror drought, and I welcome a technically superior film with open arms, though without Fede Alvarez's style, it doesn't work as well as it should. It was a bit bothered that the first half is very similar to the first film, another home invasion, where instead of robbing Stephen Lang they go after his adopted daughter, but the flow is pretty similar. The twist in the second half is quite interesting, it has a bit of an exploitation feel to it, but the downside for me is the action. Lang just doesn't suit me as a tough blind man (when I compare it to what Jason Momoa does in See, Lang is more of a minion than a boss), and also the lack of any significant carnage – three gore scenes out of a possible fifteen is really not enough, and shooting four opponents in three seconds like that is a downright waste of good material. The film is definitely worth seeing. Don't Breathe 2 is definitely one of the better films in the last month, but it didn't blow me away or entertain me as much as I had hoped. Story 3/5, Action 3/5, Humour 0/5, Violence 3/5, Fun 3/5 Music 4/5, Visuals 4/5, Atmosphere 3/5, Tension 3/5, Emotion 2/5, Actors 3/5. 6.5/10. (10.09.2021)