October Horror Movie Challenge - Don’t Breathe 2 (2021)

 

Plot

Blind retired Navy SEAL Norman Nordstrom, has been living away from the city since the events of the previous film. He has been raising a young girl, Phoenix, who believe she's his daughter. After a chance encounter while in town with Norman's only friend/ally, another retired veteran, Army Ranger Hernandez, Phoenix encounters her actual father, who plans on taking her back from Nordstrom.

Review

I loved the first Don't Breathe. Stephen Lang was truly frightening. That makes this one pretty odd. We know that Lang has killed and raped based on the plot of the first flick. We also know that Phoenix isn't has biological daughter and that he's lying to her. Despite all of this, he is presented as one of the protagonists of the film. I know a protagonist doesn't have to be upstanding and moral, but it still feels weird (at least going into the flick) routing for him. To remedy this the movie makes Phoenix's actual father even more despicable. I won't go into details, but they found a way to do that. Also, while classified as a horror/thriller, I think this one feels more like an action/thriller. 

Stephen Lang is phenomenal as Nordstrom. He managers to portray Nordstrom as someone frightening. He also does a good job showing ultimately how conflicted his actions have made him. While I don't think the character can be forgiven for his actions, which he admits himself, he is trying to do something better. I feel one of the true stars of the film is Madelyn Grace, the young actress that plays Phoenix. Honestly, while the plot centers around her getting kidnapped, I would argue that she is the true protagonist of the film. 

A final thing I'd like to discuss is how this movie subverts classic minion tropes in a good way. There is a character that works for Phoenix's father, Raylen, who shows a conscious. While he's still a bad guy and does some awful things, ultimately there are lines he won't cross. He even helps Nordstrom at one point. This feels like an oddity in these types of movies. Honestly, it was a nice change.

While ultimately this movie isn't really a straight forward horror flick and one of the protagonists is questionable, Don't Breathe 2 is still and entertaining flick and I really enjoyed it.

In Your Game

A character like Nordstrom would be an interesting addition to a gritty or Iron Age style supers game. You could also recreate the events of the first flick using 5e: 80's Horror.

Codename: The Blind Man

Name: Norman Nordstrom

Team Affiliation: -

Medium Humanoid, Lawful Evil

Armor Class: 14 

Hit Points: 50

Speed: 35 ft.

Challenge: 2 (450 XP)

Str 14 (+2) Dex 15 (+2) Con 14 (+1) Int 12 (+1) Wis 18 (+4) Cha 10 (+0)

Saving Throws: Str +4, Con +4

Skills: Animal Handling +6, Insight +6, Perception +6, Stealth +4, Survival +6

Senses: Blindsight 30 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Passive Perception 16

Languages: English

Traits

Blind Senses: Nordstrom can't use his blindsight while deafened and unable to smell.

Keen Hearing and Smell: Nordstrom has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing and smell.

Actions

Multiattack: Nordstrom can make two melee attacks.

Machete: Melee Weapon Attack. +4 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target, Hit: 6 (1d8+2) slashing damage.

Unarmed: Melee Weapon Attack. +4 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target, Hit: 4 (1d4+2) bludgeoning damage.

New Movies: 5

Other Horror Movies Watched Since Last Post: 

Challenge Total: 9