Bird Box Barcelona: a Netflix sequel we didn’t ask for, but got anyway (film trailer).
Welcome, SFcrowsnest readers, to the latest offering on the Great Netflix Buffet: “Bird Box Barcelona,” the film that no one exactly demanded, but which arrived on the streaming platform anyway, promising more blindfolded chaos, terrifying invisible entities, and a fresh Spanish twist.
“Bird Box Barcelona” is a spin-off from the original 2018 post-apocalyptic film “Bird Box”, which itself was adapted from a novel of the same name by Josh Malerman. As you might recall, the original “Bird Box” was the film where everyone was either committing suicide or blindly paddling down a river – talk about a cheery premise. It seems the producers said, “You know what this needs? A European flair!”
Let’s dive into this cinematic tour de force, shall we?
Our protagonists this time around are a father (Casas) and daughter (Schuberth) duo who somehow survive in a dystopian future where looking at roaming entities leads to instant death. Because there’s nothing like a family outing to a post-apocalyptic Barcelona for some bonding time.
In a refreshing display of originality, the casting director has avoided the temptation to recycle Hollywood faces. Instead, we’ve got an ensemble that includes Mario Casas, Naila Schuberth, and Georgina Campbell, among others. A promising lineup of talent, if we ignore the fact that they’re stuck acting through blindfolds for most of the film.
The Pastor brothers, Álex and David, take on the writing and directing duties. One can only hope that the added pressure of leading the “Bird Box” franchise into its next chapter doesn’t result in them wishing to gaze upon the lethal entities themselves.
As for the production, well, principal photography commenced in Spain in January 2022. Netflix, it seems, is hellbent on maintaining its tradition of filming series in the most picturesque places, and then proceeding to make them as dystopian as possible.
The film is set to premiere on Netflix on July 14, 2023, for those of you eagerly marking your calendars in anticipation of more bird box induced anxiety.
Without delving into spoilers, it’s safe to say that “Bird Box Barcelona” follows a similar blueprint to its predecessor – because why change a winning formula? Expect blindfolded navigation, unseen monsters, the occasional deaths, and enough tension to make you consider watching the entire film from behind a pillow.
One can’t help but be impressed by the boldness of Netflix – greenlighting a spin-off for a film that was arguably a stand-alone, one-off event. The question is, will “Bird Box Barcelona” add something new to this universe, or will it just be another case of a blindfolded walk through familiar territory? In the meantime, do try to avoid looking at any mysterious entities.
