Don't Breathe 2 Screenshot: YouTubeFede lvarez' 2016 horror film Dont Breathe had a unique premise. It asked audiences to accept a slasher movie in which the antagonist is not only the victim in a home invasion of armed thieves but also an elderly blind man. Stephen Lang's portrayal of the evil guy, a trained killer who can project more terror in silence than most horror movie bad guys can with just two pages of monologue, is responsible for a healthy portion of the film's success, which saw it gross over $150 million. The script by Rodo Sayagues and lvarez was carefully balanced to tilt the audience's sympathys in the right direction. It slowly reveals that the man in question is not innocent nor harmless.It is therefore somewhat puzzling to see the trailer for Dont Breathe 2 today. The trailer positions Langs Norman Nordstrom, 11-year-old Phoenix as the protagonist. It is impossible to judge a movie purely on the trailer. There are clear indications that the bad guys who broke into Langs house this time have a clear idea of how monstrous he truly is. It is still strange to see Lang's character so clearly presented. He even appears to have low-grade superpowers and can kill multiple people by simply stepping in a pool of water. This is a reminder that Lang was only one person in Dont Breathe. The cat and mouse game took up the majority of the film's runtime. The films appeal was due to the small stakes.AdvertisementLang still looks strong and determined, even though lvarez has given Sayagues the directing duties. Although we have some concerns that the franchise, as it stands, might fall under the influence of a First Blood Part II tone shift. However, if Sam Raimi's team can still create a thriller that is as taut and compelling as the original, it will likely be in good shape.
