Bird Box Barcelona, 2023.
Written and Directed by David Pastor and Alex Pastor.
Starring Mario Casas, Alejandra Howard, Georgina Campbell, Naila Schuberth, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Diego Calva, Patrick Criado, Lola Dueñas, Gonzalo de Castro, Michelle Jenner, Celia Freijeiro, Milo Taboada, Sergio Freijo, and Manel Llunell.
SYNOPSIS:
After an entity of mysterious origin annihilates the world’s population causing those who observe it to take their lives, Sebastián and his daughter begin their own great adventure of survival in Barcelona.
While Bird Box Barcelona comes with diminishing returns and probably won’t unexpectedly make the series a social media phenomenon again, writers/directors David and Alex Pastor evolve the apocalyptic material (based on a book by Josh Malerman) into an effective mental battle between science and faith.
There’s an opening stretch demonstrating and reminding viewers how this malevolent entity uses disturbing visions to prey on anyone whose eyes aren’t shielded, resorting to manipulative sounds and delusions to drive an individual to the brink of madness, causing them to commit suicide. Within the first 20 minutes, a suicidal man takes a bus full of survivors on a destructive journey, a man slits his throat with a shard of glass, a woman sticks her face into a moving tire, and more death ensues. However, none of this is no longer shocking or impactful; it’s mostly gratuitous and pointless, leaving no impression. There is also no reason to care about any of these characters.
It also doesn’t help that, for some baffling reason, Netflix defaulted my viewing to English when the original audio is European Spanish. As such, many of the performances and line deliveries came across as awkward, nowhere near the standard of a Netflix original or what we know these actors are capable of. With roughly 30 minutes left, I suddenly remembered that this happened to a colleague who watched last year’s All Quiet on the Western Front for review, greatly lessening his experience and enjoyment of the film. Lo and behold, the same thing happened to me here. It’s also important to mention this because I did enjoy the general story and themes explored here, even while putting up with shoddy acting. It’s safe to say I would have enjoyed watching the movie more as intended, which one would presume Netflix would default from the start.
That’s not to say it would have course corrected some of the familiarity on display (there are several forgettable supporting characters that the entity turns against one another in clichéd ways), but it certainly would have enhanced everything after the prologue, which is quite compelling and sets itself apart from the first film. Centered on Sebastian (Mario Casas), a loving father to his young daughter Anna (Alejandra Howard), the filmmakers wisely play their cards upfront, revealing some secrets and his ulterior motives.
One group member also happens to be Claire (Georgina Campbell), a grieving doctor. The dialogue and conversations between them are often moving. Without spoiling anything, the idea of expanding the entity into something that also handpicks individuals to be shown something rather than hypnotized into suicide adds to the religious commentary, suggesting that the chosen ones are also the gullible ones, the ones who will crack under trauma to believe and serve this being.
Much like 2018’s Bird Box, this Spanish spinoff sequel covers two different timelines, each complementing the other thematically. The two halves of Bird Box Barcelona and the juxtaposing character dynamics between Sebastian and Claire also come together for an emotionally satisfying conclusion, even if thrills outweigh substance during the finale. It could have been more of the same for 110 minutes, but the story has dramatic weight alongside intriguing lore expansion.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
