Aviary Barcelona
Netflix
I had absolutely no idea there would be a sequel to Bird Box until yesterday when it came out on Netflix. And I didn’t expect it to be a film set across the ocean in Spain, thousands of miles from where we last left Sandra Bullock, who is not in the film.
And yet, Bird Box Barcelona is somehow… better than the original film. I didn’t even like the original film that much, but I really like the Barcelona sequel, even though I know it contradicts previous reviews from critics and viewers alike. The original “Bird Box” has 64% of the critics and 58% of the audience. Bird Box Barcelona, on the other hand, has 48% among critics and 55% among viewers.
If I had looked at the scores beforehand, I might have skipped the film altogether as I have too many other things on my backlog to waste my time on something bad. But I’m glad I didn’t, and I have no problem being among the dissenting voices here. Despite the absence of Sandra Bullock, obviously the best part of the first film, the overall arc and plot of Barcelona is better.
Starring in the film, the talented Mario Casas plays the role of Sebastian, a survivor who travels the apocalyptic city streets with his daughter, trying to navigate the apocalyptic city streets where the sight of mysterious creatures roaming outside roaming about, will cause you to kill yourself instantly, save for a select few whom he turns into murderous robbers instead.
Aviary Barcelona
Netflix
The main reason I enjoyed the film so much is the twist revealed early on, which I really, really don’t want to mention here as the surprise it brought really surprised me and I hope it does the same effected on you. But it changes the whole narrative structure of the story and creates a far more compelling plot than Bullock’s original.
I’ve heard some complaints about how we never “see” the monsters, but there are actually some elaborate explanations of how the monsters work, which in a way makes a lot of sense (at least in a sci-fi sense). I found it satisfying enough without having to see some giant CGI thing on screen.
There are also compelling themes in the story. Yes, everyone is trying not to die to the monsters and evil cultists, but the way we deal with grief and loss is very nuanced and emotional.
I’m aware that if I recommend this so strongly, I might get some people to tell me I’m crazy. But something about this film struck me in a way that I wasn’t expecting, and I found it far more engaging and interesting than the original, which I largely viewed as an inferior knock-off from The Quiet Place. The? This is something different and feels fresh and worth seeing.
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I’ve been writing about video games, television, and film for Forbes for over 10 years, and you may have seen my reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. I cover all types of console and PC games, but when it comes to looting or gunfights I’m definitely in. When I watch something, it’s usually sci-fi, horror, or superheroes. I’m also a regular on IGN’s Fireteam Chat podcast and have published five sci-fi novels.
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