Following up on a surprisingly entertaining origin story, The Old Guard 2 attempts to expand the universe created by Greg Rucka (writer of the original The Old Guard comic and film) and once again directed for the screen – this time under the hand of Victoria Mahoney (Yelling to the Sky). The sequel reunites Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road), KiKi Layne (If Beale Street Could Talk), Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone), Marwan Kenzari (Aladdin), Luca Marinelli (Martin Eden), and Veronica Ngô (Furie), adding Uma Thurman (Kill Bill: Vol. 1) as the new antagonist. Picking up shortly after the events of the first movie, this installment follows Andy (Theron) and her fellow immortals as they face both external and internal threats. Discord (Thurman), a powerful adversary, seeks to eliminate immortal influence on human history, raising challenging philosophical questions about power, purpose, and free will.
Before diving into the sequel’s triumphs and shortcomings, it’s worth recalling my thoughts on the original. Back then, I was positively surprised by a film that, despite its flaws, delivered strong character work, practical action, and a compelling throughline that elevated it above the countless generic action flicks dumped onto streaming platforms. The 2020 flick, for all its franchise potential, wisely prioritized telling a complete, self-contained story – one with a coherent emotional arc for its characters, particularly Theron’s Andy, whose weariness and isolation gave the otherwise fantastical premise a relatable core. I praised its commitment to meaningful character beats and the way it embraced its immortals’ centuries of pain and purpose, even if the antagonist’s shallow motivations left much to be desired.
Which brings me to The Old Guard 2, a sequel that, on the surface, addresses one of the first movie’s major flaws: a more compelling antagonist. Thurman’s Discord enters the fray as a character with genuinely thought-provoking motives. Rather than lusting for profit or power, Discord operates from a philosophical stance: immortals should not play God, interfering with humanity’s natural evolution. Her ideology presents a fascinating mirror to the main group’s own mission, making every confrontation feel layered with moral ambiguity. Equally captivating is the expanded role of Quynh (Veronica Ngô), whose tragic past and complicated feelings toward Andy fuel a subplot filled with betrayal, heartbreak, and conflicting loyalties. Quynh’s anger is rooted in love, abandonment, and centuries of pain – deeply human motivations that resonate more powerfully than any grand villainous scheme.
For much of the film, these narrative threads are engaging and emotionally driven. Unfortunately, it’s in the third act where The Old Guard 2 stumbles. Discord’s motivations, so clear and compelling for most of the runtime, are abruptly simplified into more conventional villain territory. What began as a morally complex struggle devolves into yet another clash of good vs. evil, undermining the thematic depth established earlier. The climax also suffers from a muted, overly gray color palette that drains energy from an otherwise well-choreographed final battle. It’s a shame because the physical stunt work remains sharp and the cast’s commitment undeniable, but the flat visuals rob the finale of the visceral punch it needs.
As with the first movie, the action sequences are a standout. Mahoney clearly values practical stunt choreography, and the cast – especially Theron and Layne – continues to throw themselves into each fight with grit and grace. Whether in hand-to-hand combat or gunfights, the physicality feels real, dangerous, and refreshingly grounded compared to the CGI-heavy spectacles typical of modern blockbusters. Sadly, the same can’t be said for the soundtrack choices. The original score, composed by Steffen Thum and Ruth Barrett, is serviceable, but the electropop song selections feel distractingly out of place. The sudden drop of a trendy pop track yanks the viewer out of the narrative, making the film feel more like a forgettable streaming product than the thematically rich action drama it strives to be.
Pacing is another area where The Old Guard 2 struggles. For a movie that boasts higher stakes, the story feels surprisingly sluggish. Scenes that should crackle with tension often meander, weighed down by too much exposition once again. Rucka’s script occasionally falls into the trap of overexplaining intriguing concepts that would be far more impactful if left to the audience’s interpretation. Instead of trusting the viewer to grasp the philosophical dilemmas at play, the film spells out its themes in explicit dialogue, robbing them of their power. As a result, moments that could be deeply affecting land with a dull thud.
Worse still, The Old Guard 2 feels burdened by the need to set up yet another sequel. One of my main praises for the original was its focus on making a complete, satisfying story first, leaving franchise ambitions as an afterthought. Here, that focus is reversed. The narrative bends over backward to introduce new characters, tease future conflicts, and plant seeds for an inevitable The Old Guard 3. This bloat stretches the runtime unnecessarily, padding a relatively straightforward story with subplots that feel like placeholders rather than meaningful developments. By the time the credits roll, it’s hard not to feel that The Old Guard 2 is merely a stepping stone, not a destination – leaving audiences to wonder whether this and the next installment could have been combined into one stronger, more cohesive movie.
Despite these frustrations, the heart of the saga – the camaraderie between the immortals, their struggle to find meaning in eternal life, and the weight of their shared history – remains intact. Theron continues to bring depth and vulnerability to Andy, while Layne further cements Nile’s role as the group’s moral compass. Ngô appears in a more prominent role, delivering both emotional vulnerability and steely resolve. Thurman, when allowed to play her villain as a thinker rather than a generic antagonist, elevates every scene she’s in. It’s clear that Mahoney and Rucka care deeply about these characters and their world, even if the execution occasionally falters.
Final Thoughts on The Old Guard 2
The Old Guard 2 is a mixed bag – a sequel that improves in some areas but regresses in others. Its action remains entertaining, bolstered by committed performances and sharp choreography. Thematically, it dares to ask meaningful questions about destiny, power, and morality, even if it struggles to answer them in a satisfying manner. But a sluggish pace, tonal inconsistencies, and an overemphasis on setting up future installments dilute what could have been a sharper, more impactful story. Fans of the first film might find enough to enjoy, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this franchise is losing sight of what made it special in the first place. Now, I merely hope the inevitable third chapter finally strikes the right balance between character, action, and world-building.
Rating: C
The Old Guard 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
Learn more about the film at the Netflix website for the title.
