Brahms: The Boy II (2020) - Walkden Entertainment

The film begins with Lisa (Katie Holmes) coming home to her son, Jude (Christopher Convery). During the night, the two suffer a violent break-in to their apartment, which leaves Lisa with a head injury and her son refusing to speak ever again. Lisa’s partner decides to take the family away to a quiet place near the Heelshire Mansion, where the two can recover and overcome their fears. After all, the woods are usually a perfect place to relax. Not this time. It is not long until Jude finds a life-like doll that has been buried. The family clean the doll up and discover its name is Brahms.

I enjoyed the first film, The Boy, which I reviewed with a film score of 6.0/10. As a sequel, there are no returning characters in this installment. Brahms: The Boy II is quite different to the first film, especially regarding its story and main characters. The direction this film took did surprise me.

The Audio quality of this film is exceptionally pleasing. Those who enjoy a horror film with consistent jump scares will find the audio quality of this film excellent. Visuals are also great, but as expected, they are rather dark and bland to suit the tone of the film.

Another pleasing element is the performances, particularly from actor Christopher Convery who plays Jude. While Jude’s character does not speak a great deal, he communicates with a pen and note pad. The more he is with Brahms, the more disturbing his role becomes. The only reason why Jude is allowed to keep Brahms by his side is because his parents have hopes it may assist him in finally speaking once again.

As for any issues with the film, the plot and story are a major let down for me. Considering this sequel has both the same director and writer as the previous movie, I am saddened to see this film take a very unexpected direction. Not only is the plot different, but the plot and critical elements do not honour the last movie, particularly when it comes to Brahms and the Doll’s capabilities. It is a complete misfire and damages any joy I had in the success of the original film. While performances are generally good, the characters can be disappointing, particularly when it comes to their choices that ultimately feel predictable. As a horror film, there is not anything overly new or exciting, and the consistent jump scares are overused and forced.

Overall, fans who have seen the original installation may be curious to see this film. To my surprise, the film takes a somewhat different path than expected. This sequel takes some severe risks, particularly when it comes to Brahms as a horror figure, and I feel people’s responses could be mixed. This sequel also hurts the original film. This sequel had the potential to do something new and exciting, but instead, it takes a path that is ultimately forgettable, odd, forced, and pointless.

3.8/10

Brahms: The Boy II (2020) is Now Avaiable on Blu-ray & DVD