Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
No one is safe when seemingly random killings emerge as a deadly pattern intended to usher in the end of the world. A murder victim with the same DNA as Christ. A serial killer mimicking the deaths of the 12 Apostles. Inspector Niemans and a young, rebellious detective team up with a beautiful expert in religion to crack the case before their elusive suspect completes the cycle of terror, paving the way to an even bigger bloody catastrophe.
Crimson Rivers II is a disappointing follow-up that leans heavily into overwrought religious conspiracy thriller territory. The plot involving Christ DNA and apostle murders is convoluted rather than intriguing, piling on Dan Brown-esque conceits without the coherence to make them compelling. Jean Reno returns but the chemistry with his new partner feels forced, and the performances are generally serviceable at best. Visually it retains some of the atmospheric cinematography of the original, with decent location work in French monasteries and wintery settings. However, the novelty factor is low — it recycles the prestige French thriller formula of its predecessor without adding much distinctive voice, and the religious apocalypse angle feels derivative of similar post-Se7en thrillers. The ending fails to satisfyingly resolve the elaborate conspiracy it constructs, leaving a muddled conclusion to an already strained narrative.