Bird Box Barcelona Review – Could’ve Been A Series
The 2023 horror film “Bird Box Barcelona” is set in the same dystopian universe as Sandra Bullock’s “Bird Box”, just that the latter was set in America. Both films are standalone pieces, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything if you haven’t seen the older one.
Directed and written by David Pastor and Alex Pastor, the spinoff stars Mario Casas as protagonist Sebastian, who, along with his daughter Anna, is trying to survive a mysterious entity that compels people to kill themselves upon seeing it. The majority of the world’s population is wiped out due to this sinister phenomenon, and the remaining survivors never venture outside without blindfolds. The cinematography constantly reminded me of other dystopian stories, more specifically “The Walking Dead” and “Sweet Tooth”. Although unlike either of those shows, “Bird Box Barcelona” continues to keep its ‘end of the world’ inducing entity a complete mystery.
The Barcelona chapter has a much more serious tone compared to Sandra Bullock’s story, and the writers delve into theological and psychological themes throughout the narrative. After explaining the paranormal outbreak through a series of flashbacks, the story centers on Sebastian’s efforts to lead a small group of survivors to a safe place. Interestingly, the protagonist is a morally ambiguous character, making it difficult for most viewers to root for him. Mario Casas expertly portrays the dual shades of Sebastian, who is like a completely different man in the flashbacks. Apart from Georgina Campbell’s Claire, the other characters don’t receive enough screen time to establish a connection or empathy. Claire, a psychiatrist, gets along well with those around her and still believes in the inherent goodness of people. However, due to the film’s tight runtime, her immediate probing questions to newcomers come across as intrusive, despite her good intentions. While I typically complain about films being too long, “Bird Box Barcelona” could have been adapted into a series with 8-10 episodes to allow for better character development for some of the actors.
With its post-apocalyptic setting, “Bird Box Barcelona” is an interesting attempt at explaining how trauma and grief can have a lasting or damaging impact on people. The climax was on expected lines, however a little revelations in the end sparks scope for further sequels.
It’s a 7 on 10 from me. Stream it on Netflix.
