Released in 2018, Bird Box (starring Sandra Bullock) was a smash hit for Netflix, and the film became the must-watch horror movie of the season. With the success of the Netflix Original, a follow-up was bound to happen. The task was given to the writer/director team of David & Alex Pastor, who took the Bird Box phenomenon across the seas for Bird Box Barcelona.
Looking to expand on the lore while offering a distinct take on the events that unfolded in the first feature, the horror/thriller film certainly has some intense moments. We will look at the scariest moments in Bird Box Barcelona, ranked, to celebrate the arrival of the anticipated entry in the Bird Box series.
9 Final Showdown with the Cult
Driven to "free" others in a bid to see his daughter once more, the viewer learns that Sebastian's belief comes from a cult led by an enigmatic priest. While the cult's origins and Sebastian's involvement with them are woven throughout the story through flashbacks and interactions with victims, it is the showdown where the stakes and horror are amplified.
At the same time, Bird Box Barcelona's least engaging storyline comes from the cult. It is not one of those great films about cults. And while this is near the film's conclusion, it just squeaks onto the list.
8 Where Did My Dogs Go?
One of the group of survivors Sebastian comes across uses dogs to help them navigate the land. This crew, which introduces the central characters of Claire (Georgina Campbell) and Sofia (Naila Schuberth), find themselves lost when their dogs break free during a confrontation.
This scene is as difficult to approach as the man who cares for the dogs desperately searches for them and is ultimately fooled into taking off his blindfold, thinking one is injured. Even worse, one of the dogs loses its blindfold and attacks another in the crew. This is one of the more effective scenes in the movie, yet seeing a man lose his beloved pet and the dogs turning violent is kind of a cheap scare that will leave dog owners feeling uneasy.
7 Sebastian... Is Not So Nice
With Claire's quick wit and intelligence, it was only a matter of time before she caught on to Sebastian's real motives. After an incident where Sebastian lets down his guard, and Claire realizes he can sense the creatures and would have actively played a part in the death of her fellow survivors, the two face off in an intense encounter where a blinded Claire tries to protect Sofia.
This ends up being a turning point for Sebastian, but this confrontation, followed by the near exposure of a young Claire to the creatures, is one of the more tense sequences in the movie.
6 The Cults Final Send-Off to Its Victims
Throughout the streets of Barcelona, Sebastian and a group of survivors come across strung-up bodies surrounded by the symbol of an eye. A grim visual made all the more disturbing with the knowledge that those strung up are alive, infected by the phenomenon, and in a perpetual state of disturbing bliss brought on by a desire to die.
The image of the survivors is horrifying enough, but the major scene that sends chills comes from Sebastian's recollection of the cult taking his child from him and forcing her to see the phenomenon. While the cult is one of the least exciting aspects of Bird Box Barcelona, that is not to say their presence does not provide wonderful moments of horror that elevate the movie.
5 Don't Worry, This Room Is Safe
Before he takes a sharp character turn near the film's conclusion, Sebastian's game is to try to make as many people see the creatures as possible. In one scene, the crew looks through a house to find supplies. This sequence is wonderfully tense as the viewer sees them reach blindly, unaware of the bodies of the deceased.
However, when Sebastian yells to one of the survivors that the room is clear (meaning it is closed) and the man takes off his blindfold to see an open window, the horror that floods his face before he is taken over is chilling. One of the most effective elements of the concept behind Bird Box is how it causes people to take their own life, and this scene, in particular, is a horrific way to go, adding to the horror of the situation.
4 Just One Jump to Freedom
While Sebastian is fending off the cultists from staking their claim on Claire and Sofia, the two face their own challenge as they scale a tower to make it to a sky tram to the haven on the other end. Not only do they have to fend off the voices of the creatures trying to trick them into taking off their blindfold, but they must also try to time getting on the tram while being blindfolded.
It comes down to one well-time jump between freedom and a deadly fall, and even though it is apparent the two will survive, the scene is, nonetheless, frightening.
3 Evil Remains
While the film's conclusion can be left open for interpretation, one apparent fact is that the Bird Box phenomenon is far from over, and any shelters made by survivors will eventually crumble. The tenseness of the closing moments also shows government intervention/experimentation, adding potential to expand on the concept in future entries.
With a single bang on the door, viewers know that the Bird Box incident will continue to wreak havoc, a genuinely chilling conclusion that will excite viewers and leave them wanting more.
2 Sacrifices Must Be Made
This scene acts as a nice rug pull, as our introduction to Sebastian as a protagonist gives the viewer the assumption that his intentions are pure, or at least he can make sacrifices for the greater good. However, his first interaction with other survivors instantly turns from friendly to murderous.
To pull a group of diverse survivors from the comfort of their shelter, he hijacks the bus they sleep on and drives it right out into the open. As the survivors panic, Sebastian plays on their fears and even forces one to open their eyes to receive "the gift" of release. This scene is the perfect introduction to the lawless world and the corrupt nature of Sebastian.
1 Bird Box Comes to Barcelona
The most shocking and disturbing sequences of Bird Box Barcelona come via a flashback to the phenomenon first hitting Barcelona. Thrown directly into the chaos, Sebastian runs to save his daughter amidst shocking deaths across the bustling city. Everywhere Sebastian turns, he is confronted by horror, and the desperation to find his daughter compelling him to move onward makes for intense viewing.
For viewers already familiar with the concept behind Bird Box, as outlined in the first film, this scene is a glorious way to see how the event shook other parts of the world. Consequently, this sequence is not only the best in the film, but it will also be the most engaging for fans of the original movie.
Bird Box Barcelona is available to stream now on Netflix.