In the long history of utterly unnecessary horror sequels, a special place must be carved out for “Don’t Breathe 2.” The 2016 original was a nasty but serviceable home invasion thriller, directed with a modicum of skill by Fede Alvarez. However, if horror sequels (like comedy sequels) are plagued with the inherent difficulty of replicating the element of surprise so essential to their genre, a “Don’t Breathe” follow-up is in particular peril.

Continue reading ‘Don’t Breathe 2’: A Bafflingly Ill-Advised, Wildly Incompetent Horror Sequel [Review] at The Playlist.

There’s been a lot of discussion about the upcoming “Don’t Breathe 2.” Not only is it the sequel to the surprising horror/thriller about thieves who unexpectedly find themselves robbing a blind man that is really just a heartless murderer, but the new installment in the franchise flips the script and makes that heartless murderer the hero. But as the new “Dark AF” red band trailer for “Don’t Breathe 2” is any indication, it definitely could be difficult to root for the hero of the film.

Continue reading ‘Don’t Breathe 2’ Red Band Trailer: Stephen Lang Murders The Hell Out Of People In The New Thriller at The Playlist.

Though there are a million horror films, there are seemingly a much smaller number of actual unique stories to tell in the genre, especially when it comes to sequels. Typically, if a horror film becomes popular, the sequel decides to basically mimic the first film to replicate that success. Well, the filmmakers behind “Don’t Breathe 2” are taking a very different approach.

READ MORE: Fede Alvarez Says New ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Is A Direct Sequel To The Original With “Old Man Leatherface”

As seen in the trailer for “Don’t Breathe 2,” the sequel takes the killer from the first film, an aging blind man that will kill anyone that enters his home, and makes him the hero of the story.

Continue reading ‘Don’t Breathe 2’ Trailer: The Blind Killer Becomes The Hero In This Horror Sequel at The Playlist.

No horror film caught audiences more by surprise in the past decade than “Get Out.” Jordan Peele‘s debut feature was nominated for five Academy Awards, grossed over $255 million worldwide, and helped push social-minded horror films from the fringes of the horror genre to its very center.

If you had to pick a runner-up, though, you could do a lot worse than Fede Álvarez‘s 2016 horror film “Don’t Breathe.” That film may not have won awards, but it still managed to be a big hit with critics and earned $157 million at the global box office to boot.

Continue reading ‘Don’t Breathe 2’ Promotes Rodo Sayagues To The Director’s Chair at The Playlist.