Nobody 2 Review
With Nobody 2, 87 North (a splinter production company from 87 Eleven Entertainment, better known for the John Wick series) makes a significant move by hiring its first genuinely established action director, Indonesian powerhouse Timo Tjahjanto. While the original Nobody was directed by Ilya Naishuller, whose debut action film was the experimental first-person movie Hardcore Henry, Ilya had never directed a traditional action film before. Timo arrives with a more seasoned portfolio, having directed some of the finest action films ever made, such as The Night Comes for Us and The Shadow Strays, showcasing his distinctive visual style.
This marks a pivotal moment for 87 North: will the studio adopt a Marvel-like visual approach for action scenes, relying on Second Unit to handle most of it, and risk losing the director’s unique touch, or will it evolve by recognising that a visionary is behind the lens and let their style influence the action? It is safe to say that nobody compromised their identity with this remarkable sequel. Nobody 2 accomplishes what few sequels dare to dream: a refinement so bold it eclipses the original.
After moving into a new home with his family. Former government assassin Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) now has to settle a debt of millions to The Barber (Colin Salmon) after burning all the money the Russians had. As he carries out multiple operations to repay this debt, his home life suffers, with him missing out on time with his children and wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen). A seemingly simple snatch and grab spirals into chaos, and Hutch wishes to go on vacation to Plummervile, a place he used to visit as a child with his brother Harry (Rza) and Father David (Christopher Lloyd), intending to give his family a taste of good memories from his past.
However, upon arriving in Plummervile, he cannot escape his work, as he becomes entangled in the corruption of the town—a route for drugs, weapons, and other illegal contraband smuggled from Canada. The operation is run by fairground owner Henry (John Ortiz), corrupt sheriff Abel (Colin Hanks), and the mastermind, the sadistic and sinister Lendina (Sharon Stone). Just wanting to enjoy his vacation, Hutch must protect his family from the evil that threatens to ruin it.
One of the greatest strengths of Nobody 2 is how grounded and relatable its core message is. While most viewers might not identify with being an ex-government assassin, many will understand the desire to disconnect from work and maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is something I personally struggle with. Hutch’s desire to spend time with his family is sincere, but his violent tendencies resurface, and he is swept into the internal politics of this corrupt town, which forces him to re-enter the world he is trying to leave behind, with scenes of ruthless killing and acts of violence that are, in essence, just work.
The script by Derek Kolstad and Aaron Rabin grounds the action in realism. Action is more closely aligned with dance numbers in musicals than with traditional plot mechanics. Violence conveys the emotion that dialogue cannot convey. Nobody 2 masters this core philosophy; every action scene is carefully positioned to propel the characters and story. While the story may lean towards the comically simple, it explores the characters in interesting ways that kept me engaged from start to finish. Timo Tjahjanto, like in his previous work, The Shadow Strays, emphasises the film’s core ideas in ways that are not suitable. Truthfully, sometimes storytelling requires a machete, not a scalpel, to be effective.
Timo Tjahjanto brings his signature eye for action from his Indonesian filmography, and he adapted to the 87North framework with immaculate precision. Collaborating with fight coordinator Kirk A Jenkins and stunt designer/coordinator and second unit director Greg Rementer to conjure a visceral blend of East-meets-West to the action. The camera never rests, constantly weaving through hand-to-hand sequences in sync with the momentum of the fight. Whether it be tracking teeth flying from people’s mouths and colliding with the call buttons of an elevator, or moving in the direction of punches. Every movement injects kinetic energy that was noticeably absent in the original film.
The climactic fairground set piece enhances the original’s concept of using a locale as a playground for inventive action. A true masterclass in chaotic creativity, the climax flawlessly combines unique choreography with sheer amounts of violent hilarity. The fairground functions as much as a weapon as the Tommy gun Hutch wields, creating moments that will make you wince at the carnage and laugh at the sheer audacity unfolding on screen. After Nobody 2, you may never view a ball pit the same way again. Additionally, there is one kill that occurs in parallel to the fairground chaos, which feels like Timo has brought his distinctive brand of violence to the sequel.
What makes this mixture of sincerity and violence so compelling is the strength of its central performances. Bob Odenkirk continues to impress as Hutch, effortlessly balancing the weary father eager to reconnect with his children and the assassin struggling to avoid conflict at every turn. Sharon Stone is a scene-stealer as the villain Lendina, commanding every scene with a chilling, sinister presence from the moment she appears. Connie Nielsen is given more depth here than in the original and anchors the film as Hutch’s wife, Becca. Her performance reinforces the film’s central themes and shows her as a genuinely loving and caring partner to Hutch.
Nobody 2 may not reinvent the action genre, but it perfects the formula established by its predecessor. Clocking in at 90 minutes, the pace flies due to its meaningful story, captivating characters, and gloriously blood-soaked action. It also stands as a testament to why Timo Tjahjanto and 87 North remain leaders in modern action filmmaking: delivering spectacle with soul, and violence with purpose. A visceral tour de force of action cinema.
★★★★★
In UK Cinemas 15th August / Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Sharron Stone, John Ortiz, Christopher Lloyd / Dir: Timo Tjahjanto / Universal Pictures / 15
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