Skip to content
Bird Box Barcelona sounds like a tongue-twister, but a bit of background…
Sandra Bullock’s Bird Box made for a great, but bizarre, film when it was released on Netflix, just before Xmas 2018, as something happened in the US which led to lots of people dying for no apparent reason, and the only potential way to stay safe was to wear a blindfold.
Now, set in Barcelona, the same is happening almost five years later (where did THAT time go?!)
Here, there’s a bit of a kerfuffle that interrupts father and daugher, Sebastian (Mario Casas) and Anna’s (Alejandra Howard) rollerskating, courtesy of some nefarious individuals who could do with a cold slap. However, this time round, the poop has already hit the fan, and not everyone has succumb to what’s out there by the time this film begins.
There’s a lot I can’t say about what happens in this, because to do so would give spoilers. Early on, I was confused about some of the actions taken by those onscreen, until the plot later revealed itself in full, since the film reveals its hand very slowly and steadily, as you try to work out just what is going on.
Also bringing Georgina Campbell‘s (Black Mirror: Hang The DJ) character, Claire, into the proceedings along the way, the ultimate aim is for as many as possible to make it to the gondola tramway high in the sky, so they can get to a safe place, similar to how Sandra Bullock had to cross a lake to get to a commune, but when you’re blindfolded, it’s not going to be easy, and makes The Krypton Factor look like a walk in the park by comparison. So, how many of them will make it, or will they all do? (But where would the fun be in that? And if you’ve seen the first film, you’ll know it would be unlikely.)
What I can say is I like how our lead is seen early on driving a bus at high speed, and badly, potentially careering out of control. Hence… where’s Ms Bullock when you need her?? 😀
However, it is dumb when in a flashback scene where everything begins to kick off, he rushes from work to his car – which someone lands on right at that very moment, a la Armageddon…. then proceeds NOT to drive it! Why wouldn’t you at least try? Only looked like a damaged windscreen.
Bird Box Barcelona has still got the same pace and direction as the first movie, and that’s what you want in a disaster movie, so if I thought I was going to be disappointed in what I thought was just a retread, I was completely wrong, as it does nicely further the plot as it goes along.
In fact, I expected this follow-up to be a bit of a cash-in, but aside from some occasionally dodgy fire CGI, it’s quite a solid entry in the canon, and it’d be interesting to see further iterations of this, since while it’s a bit daft at times, it’s still engaging viewing.
Thanks to our friends at Netflix for the screener prior to release.
Bird Box Barcelona is on Netflix from July 14th, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD.
Check out the trailer below:
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 110 minutes
Release date: July 14th 2023
Studio: Netflix
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Score: 7.5/10
Directors: David Pastor, Àlex Pastor
Producers: Dylan Clark, Adrián Guerra, Chris Morgan, Núria Valls
Screenplay: David Pastor, Àlex Pastor
Original Novel: Josh Malerman
Music: Zeltia Montes
Cast:
Sebastián: Mario Casas
Anna: Alejandra Howard
Claire: Georgina Campbell
Sofhia: Naila Schuberth
Octavio: Diego Calva
Padre Esteban: Leonardo Sbaraglia
Isabel: Lola Dueñas
Rafa: Patrick Criado
Roberto: Gonzalo de Castro
Liliana: Michelle Jenner
Laura: Celia Freijeiro
Marcial: Jorge Asin
Lazard: Abdelatif Hwidar
Pere: Manel Llunell
Elena: Aina Quinones
Rinko: Kotomi Nishiwaki
Pockmark: Milo Taboada
Greta: Carolina Meijer
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.