Den of Thieves 2: Pantera – A Fantastic Heist Thriller

In 2018, the sleazy heist masterpiece that was Den of Thieves was released onto the world, a film which navigated the spaces that intersect between cops and criminals led by a generational performance from Gerard Butler. Now, seven years later, writer/director Christian Gudegast’s Den of Thieves 2: Pantera trades in the grimy veneer of LA and all its sleazeball charm for the beautiful and slick French scenery. This exchange doesn’t just persist in the film’s setting but also through its narrative, purpose, and pace as well. This sequel exchanges its Heat influence for something more representative of the work of Melville and Frankenheimer. The film ultimately finds its footing somewhere between the Oceans films, Mission Impossible, Ronin, and Le Samurai, and that formula is admittedly turned out great. In this latest installment, Gudegast doesn’t miss a step and neither does his cast, picking up right where the original left off both stylistically and narratively.

Big Nick (Butler) is now left tattered after having the rug pulled under him following the events of the last film. He’s divorced, his children have been taken away, and he is disgraced as a cop; leading him to a secular goal of tracking down Donnie (Jackson Jr.), a journey which has taken him to France. Beaten down and broke, Nick wants a taste of the life he dedicated himself to hunting down. Upon catching up with Donnie, he decides to immerse himself into the hedonistic nature of the other side of the law as the consummate cop found himself going gangster. The shift in setting from LA to France could be felt immediately as Gudegast gives the film a breezier pace. Meanwhile, this sequel largely lacks the aggressive masculinity that propelled the original, instead favoring the exploration of the relationship between Donnie and Nick through the use of its European setting. The structure of Pantera focuses heavily on that relationship, thus placing a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Butler and Jackson Jr. who in turn, deliver career best efforts. This time around, Butler portrays Nick with a sense of longing and regret with his eyes and scruffy beard serving as a canvas for the emotion of the film. As a result, the beast has been tamed to a degree but to what end? He gives audiences the broken man audiences rooted for back in the first film and shows how that behavior may weigh on someone.

That being said, the mix of influences on Den of Thieves 2 creates a vastly different experience than the first film for better and for worse. On top of that, it feels like there’s some material missing as it would have been better served with about ten or so additional minutes and a more refined structure. Unlike the first film, one textured in the smell of whisky and cigarettes where Big Nick ran through scenes like an untamed lion, this one, however, features a more reflective Nick coming off of the first film. Where the film’s strengths lie in what differentiates it from the first. Being more of a hangout film that later becomes a heist film; audiences get to enjoy the beautiful scenery along with the characters as they become immersed into this life of hedonistic pride and calculated planning rather than trying to confront or run over it.

This pivot makes the film feel fresh and distinct while still delivering what audiences came for. There is no doubt that thanks to the Den of Thieves films, Gudegast has positioned himself as one of the most exciting directors in the action/thriller genre. His control behind the camera is stellar, allowing for his films to really come alive and feel fully realized. His action is punchy and sudden with a distinct impact that sharply positions audiences in the film’s world. Gudegast does not take his action sequences for granted and neither should audiences for they are brilliantly constructed set pieces which invoke the greats of the genre. Moreover, Kevin Matley’s score is perfect as it echoes what this film strives for. It captures the mood, atmosphere, and setting just as well as what is occurring on screen, and is a perfect companion piece to the film and a welcome follow up to Cliff Martinez’s Den of Thieves score.

In the end, after seven long years, Gudegast and company return with a film that certainly will not disappoint both fans of the genre and the original film. Although audiences expecting this sequel to be more life the previous film may be faced with an adjustment period, Den of Thieves 2 stands on its own and is a fantastic heist thriller in its own right, featuring some of the best character work and performances this genre has to offer. When paired with some truly incredible filmmaking and a great score, the result is the best start to a year one could wish for. Just remember to bring some Pepto.

still courtesy of VVS Films

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Brad Simon

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