The idea of one lawless night to release the pent-up violence of a rotten society was already disturbing from the first film. But here, in this prequel, everything becomes more explicit and political, as if the creators had finally taken off the mask. And the truth is, it works… to a certain extent. The film presents the original experiment that triggered it all, set in Staten Island, with clear parallels to Trump’s America. There’s no subtlety: the reference to a country using violence as a method of social control is present in every frame.
The atmosphere manages to be unsettling, and some sequences are really well shot. There are action moments that genuinely grab you, and even if the script isn’t brilliant, at least it knows where it’s going. The best parts come when the film embraces its anger and turns into a shout against structural racism, fear manipulation, and inequality. The lead character, played with a lot of energy, becomes a kind of local action hero that you root for and want to follow.
That said, it doesn’t always feel balanced. Some narrative choices are too obvious, and the dialogue is sometimes highlighted as if with a fluorescent marker. Subtlety is not its strength. And if you already know the franchise, there aren't many surprises: this is more of the same, just with a more direct and message-heavy approach. Still, it doesn’t feel like a simple rehash.
What really stands out is the social backdrop. There are scenes that clearly aim to make the viewer uncomfortable, to shake up some consciences. It’s not just violent entertainment but a dystopia that dares to point fingers. It might not do so with the elegance of other socially-conscious thrillers, but at least it doesn't stay on the surface. And for a franchise that seemed doomed to wear out its own formula, that’s something to appreciate.
In short, it might not be the most polished installment in the saga, but it’s certainly one of the boldest. If you're in the mood for its political message, you’ll probably enjoy it. And if you're just looking for action and blood, you’ll get that too. But this time, there’s more behind the mask.
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