Movie Review: Brahms: The Boy II

June 1, 2020

Written by Kelli Marchman McNeely

Kelli Marchman McNeely is the owner of HorrorFuel.com. She is an Executive Producer of "13 Slays Till Christmas" which is out on Digital and DVD and now streaming on Tubi. She has several other films in the works. Kelli is an animal lover and a true horror addict since the age of 9 when she saw Friday the 13th. Email: horrorfuelinfo@gmail.com

 

 

It’s rare these days to see a sequel outshine its predecessor, but that is the case with director William Brent Bell’s Brahms: The Boy II.

The first movie introduces a nanny hired to babysit a doll. She eventually discovers after witnessing what she thinks is a possessed doll that there is a man living within the walls of the manor.

The Boy II expands on the doll’s history. It centers on a couple (Katie Holmes and Owain Yeoman) and their young son Jude (Christopher Convery) who move into the guest house on the property of the manor from the first film. Due to the trauma caused by a home invasion, their son has stopped talking. While exploring the property Jude discovers a doll buried in the dirt, the infamous Brahms. Soon Katie Holme’s Liza begins to believe that the doll is not only a bad influence on her son, but that Brams may very well be possessed.

I was surprised when I first learned that Katie Holmes would star, she’s not a horror actress, but she was fantastic. Liza has been through a real trauma and is struggling to help her son heal. She’s sympathetic, and her fear feels realistic. But the movie does try to make us second guess if Liza is hallucinating at times and that felt a bit cheap.

Young Convery did an amazing job. Few actors his age are so accomplished, appearing in many high profile movies and in series like “Stranger Things” and “Gotham” and it shows in the movie. While he didn’t speak in the majority of The Boy II, he easily got across Jude’s emotions and fear. I see big things in this kid’s future.

The Boy II features more supernatural action than the original. It feels different, It’s less about jump scares and more about real slow-burn tension.

We learn more about the history of Brahms, but not enough to learn why he is evil and that’s a bit disappointing. But The Boy II does leave things wide open for a sequel so maybe we will learn more in the future. It would be interesting to see a prequel or sequel that delves deeper into his past with more detail and reveal why he exists.

Brahms: The Boy II was an entertaining movie that features some seriously spooky moments and a good story, as well as a nice twist at the end, so I’m giving it a 4 out of 5. It’s out now, so grab some snacks, head to the couch, and hit play.

Be sure to enter to win your own copy of Brahms: The Boy II on Blu-ray.

 

 

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