The Boy 2: How Scary & Violent Is It? | Screen Rant – Screen Rant

Warning! Spoilers for Brahms: The Boy II below.

Brahms: The Boy II adds to the mysterious story that was built in 2016s The Boy, but when it comes to scares and gore the new sequel doesnt bring very much to the table.

William Brent Bells The Boy was a moderate success upon its release and its recent sequel caught many people by surprise. The film provided an interesting take on the evil doll sub-genre of horror and its a fun movie that contains some real surprises. Brahms: The Boy II continues in the tradition of its predecessor when the creepy doll, Brahms, begins to slowly torment a new family. However, this sequel takes many deviations from the first Boy movie and it attempts to add an interesting new layer to Brahms mythology.

Related: How The Boy II Made Brahms Even Creepier For The Sequel

One of the most unique aspects of The Boy II is in how it responds to the events of the first film, but it also attempts to be a standalone sequel that doesnt require any knowledge of what came before it. This creates a schism in the movie that it doesnt exactly reconcile. Brahms: The Boy II brings many creative ideas to the table, but it also often seems to be fighting against its predecessor. Even though the sequels story is a bit of a mess, movies like this can still be satisfying if they deliver in the scares department. Unfortunately, The Boy II struggles to be memorable in most of the crucial areas of a horror film.

Brahms: The Boy II is fairly tame as far as horror films go. Some horror movies that are rated PG-13 can still really push the envelope, but The Boy II consistently plays it safe. Even people that are prone to getting frightened will be able to handle this movie. The most terrifying elements of the film understandably revolve around Brahms and his connection with Jude, but theyre never that intense. Minor paranormal events occur in the house, Brahms appears to move on his own, and Jude sketches some upsetting drawings of his family being killed. The films finale also features some demonic activity and its unnerving when Jude sports the real Brahms porcelain mask. However, the film continually leans into the possessed doll angle, which just isnt as frightening as the idea of a person who lives in the walls, which is what fuels the first film.

Brahms: The Boy II isnt a bloodbath by any means, but theres almost a shocking lack of death and gore in this film. A lot of this has to do with the films tiny cast and how none of Jude and his family are going to die. The bloodiest act involves Liam, Judes problematic relative, who gets impaled on a broken croquet mallet. That being said, this is hardly a gory display and it doesn't kill him. It's just another demonstration of Brahms' eerie powers.

Furthermore, during the films final act when Joseph meets his end, he's consumed by the exaggerated flames of a furnace due to Brahms evil magic. However, the death is so mired in CG effects that it's not that scary or gory on either front. It's just a flashy display. Arguably the most violent act of the film is when Joseph smashes the Brahms' doll's head open with a croquet mallet. It's an explosive act, but it's to a doll, not a real person.

Sometimes the other descriptors in a horror films rating can create some trepidation towards the movie, but theres nothing that intimidating with The Boy II. The strong language in the picture is referred to as brief strong language, and theres really nothing explicit. Thematic elements and terror are also loose ideas to use as warnings. A home invasion kicks off the movie, which definitely applies to that. The idea of losing a son to a curse is also an inherently dark topic, as is the concept of children who are possessed to kill their parents. Both ideas are presented in very careful, safe ways, which keeps Brahms: The Boy II from ever getting too dark.

Next: The Boy: Brahms' Origin & Powers Explained

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Daniel Kurland is a freelance writer, comedian, and critic, who lives in the cultural mosaic that is Brooklyn, New York. Daniels work can be read on ScreenRant, Splitsider, Bloody Disgusting, Den of Geek, and across the Internet. He recently completed work on a noir anthology graphic novel titled, "Sylvia Plaths The Bell Noir: A Rag of Bizarre Noir and Hard Boiled Tales" and hes currently toiling away on his first novel.Daniel knows that "Psycho II" is better than the original, that the finale of "How I Met Your Mother" doesnt deserve the hate that it receives, and that Garth Ennis run of "Animal Man" may be the best superhero story of all time. Hes a fan of white grape juice and appreciates a good Fuji apple.The owls are not what they seem.

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