Bird Box Barcelona Parent Guide

The earth has been invaded by aliens, the sight of whom drives most people to kill themselves. Now Sebastian (Mario Casas) wanders the desolate city of Barcelona, occasionally finding other survivors. Some are friendly and just want to live in peace, while others attack any person they find and force them to observe the aliens. After learning of a potential safe haven for survivors, Sebastian joins a small group for the perilous journey across the city.

I did not see the original Bird Box, but I did read the Wikipedia plot summary, so I think I’m up to speed. The good news is that you do not need to watch the original to understand Barcelona. It shares the same post-apocalyptic event, but otherwise stands completely on its own. The premise itself is interesting for a horror sci-fi. By never showing the audience the creatures, the film is able to maintain a sense of tension and mystery throughout its runtime. Characters also bring up different theories about the creatures, giving viewers room for interpretation. There is a twist that I saw coming, but it is still effective, albeit predictable.

Despite being a solid thriller that leans into the horror genre without too much gore and no jump scares, there is something hollow about the film as a whole. The characters are all just a little underdeveloped and the plot doesn’t always advance organically. I would not say this is a standout movie, but it’s not bad either. Bird Box Barcelona is a perfectly fine way to spend a little over 90 minutes for adult fans of the genre.

That said, the plot mostly revolves around masses of people committing suicide, so this is in no way a good choice for young or sensitive audiences. There are also some other instances of violence as well as a fair amount of swearing, including twenty f-bombs. I do believe there is an audience that will enjoy this film, but it’s not a wide one.