‘El Hoyo 2’ review: More violence in Netflix’s nightmare

Hole 2 comes to Netflix with a clear mission to recapture the brutal phenomenon that emerged in 2019. The Spanish film revolutionized the streaming platform and became one of the most-watched non-English-language feature films in its catalogue. Now director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia strives for the same in the new part with the participation Hovik Keichkerian (Money robbery) And Milena Smith (Parallel mothers).

IN Hole 2the story returns to the original film’s hellish level system. However, here we find some changes. Its inhabitants have developed a procedure to ensure everyone’s survival. To do this, they must eat only the food they chose upon entry. The rest must remain untouched until it reaches its “owners”. At best, they may agree to exchange dishes with their comrades or with the inhabitants of the next levels. But not everyone is ready to overcome this obstacle in order to survive. Therefore, the mysterious leader and his minions are trying to impose their law and put an end to the dissidents.

New approach

IN Hole 2the most important task was to find a new story to tell in this universe that had so surprised a few years ago. Now, originality was no longer the main selling point, so Netflix had to find the key to hooking its subscribers in a different way. So the idea of ​​this new food system and the organization of its inhabitants is a great starting point.

The parallels with class struggle and social criticism are again clear and obvious. There is a detail at the beginning that deducts points. After going through so many years, he intends to recount all the rules and regulations of the hole as soon as possible. But as a result, the dialogues become too graphic and artificial. For fans they can be very tedious and unnecessary. And for new viewers, a collection of chaotic phrases and sentences. In the first film they were presented in an unusual way visually and through teaching Trimagasi. In comparison, Hole 2 loses in this regard.

Be that as it may, the truth is that his story is compelling enough to forgive this overexposure and focus on new themes. because now Hole 2 He speaks very openly about religious fanaticism and false messiahs, about solidarity in the social elevator and about radical and utopian ideologies that do not take into account the potholes of the real world and human nature. Its new premise allows you to approach everything with a new approach, which is more than enough to get you going Perempuan (Smith) and Zamyatin (Keichkerian).

Wild sequel

This new installment is also much more sadistic than the first. He did not skimp on outright violence and in some very unpleasant moments. Unforgettable how Trimagasi cut off a piece of leather Goreng. But in Hole 2, Gaztelu-Urrutia it goes even further. The director chose a wild sequel, full of blood and action scenes. A total revolution of murder, blood and guts, which fits perfectly into the saga itself, although it significantly enhances it.

It is due to this increase in activity Hole 2 it manages to give the audience the aforementioned surprise again. Faced with the obvious limitations of the story itself, the director plunges into the abyss of violence and brutality without cutting corners. Something that works thanks to complete dedication Milena Smith absolutely magnificent. This is not the first time he has demonstrated that his chameleon-like acting skills allow him to perform brilliantly in almost any role. She is so fierce and passionate in this film that it is impossible not to want to continue this whole journey with her.

Disjointed ending

A journey that actually again has the same slab that weighed down the first film. It curled so tightly that the result was extremely metaphorical and difficult to understand. This has given rise to endless theories around the world about the meaning of panna cotta. Now, Hole 2 falls into the same sins. Its beginning is clear and easy to follow. But little by little the film feeds on itself until it ends with an ending that will once again leave the audience in disbelief. And, most importantly, it will not give the answers that many will be looking for in the film.

At the same time formally Hole 2 It takes things down a notch from the first with far more chaotic editing and far less creatively inspired image composition. This does not interfere with the experience, although it does reduce it to a certain extent. Precisely because this is a franchise with enormous visual potential. However, this sequel uses some of the best qualities of the first without offering anything new or special.

To sum it up, Hole 2 hits Netflix, doing what was expected of it. Bring viewers back to this nightmarish world of Dantes with new messages and the same insatiability of social criticism. To make up for the lack of suspense, it includes a lot more violence and blood, accompanied by Hovik Keichkerian as solid and hypnotic as ever, and Milena Smith it shines from within. And its ending, poorly explained and overly symbolic, will again cause a lot of talk.