Brahms: The Boy II (2020) largely ignores that clever foundation. The sequel, directed by William Brent Bell (returning from the first film), chooses a simpler, more conventional path: the doll is now unequivocally haunted.
Where the first film used Brahms as a vessel for human depravity, the sequel reimagines him as a demonic entity. A new character, a local historian (Ralph Ineson), explains that the original Brahms—the child—was evil long before he died. The doll is now a conduit for his malevolent spirit, capable of moving objects, writing threatening messages, and coercing children into violence. Brahms- The Boy II
That said, Brahms: The Boy II is not without effective moments. The cinematography remains suitably gloomy, using the sprawling, gothic mansion to create oppressive atmosphere. Christopher Convery delivers a strong performance as Jude, balancing vulnerability with unsettling calm. The film’s climax, which sees Liza forced to enter the doll’s world inside a buried safe, offers a brief glimpse of the surreal body horror the premise could have fully embraced. Brahms: The Boy II (2020) largely ignores that