BRAHMS: THE BOY II

US, 2020, 85 minutes, Colour.
Katie Holmes, Christopher Convery, Owain Yeoman, Ralph Ineson.
Directed by William Brent Bell.

Brahms is a sequel to William Brent Bell’s a film of 2016, The Boy. However, it is not exactly a sequel but follows in the vein of the original.

The family is in England, suffers the trauma of a break-in with an assault on the mother and trauma for the boy who then will not speak. Katie Holmes plays Liza, the mother. Christopher Convery plays Jude, the sensitive young boy. Owain Yeomans is the father.

In order to overcome the trauma, the family decide to go for a holiday to a country house. Exploring the grounds, Jude finds a buried doll, something of a coffin, sets of clothes. He wants to take the doll home, it becomes his constant companion, says its name is Brahms and gives a set of rules. As Judes behaviour becomes more bizarre with the doll, Liza becomes suspicious.

She researches stories on the Internet about the doll and finds a whole history of murders, deaths and parents, disappearances.

This leads to a confrontation between Liza and Brahms, Jude in the middle, the father intervening to destroy the doll. There is a complication with the groundsman whom they have met, Joseph, who himself has a sinister past and wants to protect Brahms.

Of course, there is a seemingly happy ending – but the sinister moment as Jude goes to his room and puts on a Brahms’ mask.


1. A sequel to the original? Similar patterns? The touch of horror – or more of a haunted house story?

2. The UK settings, London, homes, the trip to the countryside, the house in the country, the old mansion? The musical score?

3. The family, Liza, care for Jude, Sean and his work? The bond between mother and son? The boy and his age, sensitivities? The father at work?

4. The impact of the assault in the home, injuries to Liza, the effect on Jude, unable to speak? The therapy visits? The effect on the parents? Liza and her unwillingness to talk about the experience? Sean and frustration?

5. The decision to go to stay in the country, the house, attractive, Jude finding the doll buried in the woods? The encounter with Joseph, isolated, caretaker, his explanations? Bringing the doll home, cleaning it, becoming a constant companion for Jude?

6. The doll, its appearance, the name, Brahms? Continually with Jude, in his room, watching, at the table, having food? The list of rules? Becoming more possessive? Jude holding the doll all the time? Liza and her wariness?

7. Liza and her nightmares, her suspicions of Brahms?

8. Liza and her research, the discovery of all the stories of deaths in the past, murdering families? Brahms threatening Liza?

9. The buildup to a confrontation, Jude as almost being possessed, his father breaking the head of the doll? Joseph, his presence, his own background, sinister, his explanations and threats?

10. The final action, Brahms reconstituting his injured face, the attack on Joseph? Jude and his putting the doll in the fire? Jude wearing the Brahms mask, coming to his senses, taking it off?

11. Back home, the seemingly happy ending – and Jude putting on the Brahms mask in his room?