Bird Box: Barcelona Review – A Watchable Spin-Off That Fails to Capture the Original’s Impact

Bird Box: Barcelona, the spin-off to the viral Netflix film Bird Box, attempts to expand the universe of the original and cater to Spanish-speaking audiences.

While it falls short of recapturing the impact of its predecessor, this mid-summer spin-off still offers watchable entertainment. With an ambitious premise and an intriguing twist, Bird Box: Barcelona tries to distinguish itself from the first film. However, it struggles to deliver the same level of thrills and fails to establish its own distinctive identity.

Set in Barcelona, the story replaces Sandra Bullock‘s character with Mario Casas as Sebastián, a troubled father navigating a world overrun by creatures that induce suicide when seen. The film’s initial act presents a reversal that adds complexity to Sebastián’s mission, transforming his struggle for survival into something more unsettling. Despite occasional narrative inconsistencies and clumsy explanations, the writer-director duo, Alex and David Pastor, demonstrate their commitment to exploring fresh angles in the spin-off. Sebastián finds himself in the company of a diverse group, including Georgina Campbell from Barbarians, creating a different dynamic from the original film. Bird Box: Barcelona explores the idea of some perceiving the visitors as a blessing rather than a curse, providing a bleak commentary on religious fervor.

The spin-off offers a darker tone than its predecessor and occasionally delivers more entertaining sequences. The Pastors skillfully craft intense set pieces, with one standout moment involving a chilling mass subway suicide. The film’s exploration of religious fanaticism is admirably bleak and thought-provoking. However, its attempts to address the genre’s popular theme of trauma are less focused, as concepts like grief and loss are mentioned without receiving sufficient exploration. Despite these inconsistencies, the film manages to engage viewers and keep them entertained, albeit with a sense of inconsequentiality.

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Similar to the original film, Bird Box: Barcelona faces issues in its visuals, particularly the cheap and ineffective presentation of the creatures’ presence. The sequel also falls victim to overexplaining aspects that are better left unexplained, with a monologue about quantum mechanics feeling forced and lacking impact. Without the anchor of Sandra Bullock and the talented supporting cast from the first film, this spin-off occasionally feels less consequential and fails to replicate the same level of emotional connection.

Bird Box: Barcelona is a flawed yet competently made spin-off that surpasses low expectations. It offers a return to the forgotten world of the original film, albeit with mixed results. While it manages to provide some entertainment and narrative surprises, it falls short of capturing the cultural impact and originality of its predecessor. As Netflix explores more spin-offs, it would be wise to close the Bird Box chapter sooner rather than later. Despite its watchability, Bird Box: Barcelona does not offer enough to justify further expansions in this universe.