R | 1h 46m | Drama, Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy | 2025
Ever since Netflix went from being an online rental operation to a full-blown studio producing original content, it has caused traditional entertainment companies to shake in their boots. Whether it is with feature films, documentaries, or TV, Netflix has matched and eclipsed its old-school competitors.
With “The Old Guard” in 2020, Netflix rolled the dice with one of the last remaining traditional studio sacred cows: superhero action movies.
As with DC Comics (Warner Bros.) and Marvel (Disney), “The Old Guard” is based on a series of comic books (actually, graphic novels) by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández. It isn’t about a guy with a magic hammer or a girl who can become invisible. All of “The Old Guard” members are immortals.
Perfect Premise
Apart from “Highlander” and multiple vampire flicks, the immortality theme has previously been underexplored. Yet it is the perfect premise on which to base a movie. The collective here—three men and three women—can be killed and returned back to life in seconds.At the start of the 2020 original, the concept of surviving death only to be reborn multiple times was presented in a positive light. Who wouldn’t mind being shot, sliced, or crushed to death knowing that you’ll be immediately reborn?
As the story progresses, the oldest of the group (co-producer Charlize Theron as Andy) begins weighing the pros and cons of this power. Although never made clear, it is inferred that Andy is thousands of years old. Her entire existence has been riddled with war, strife, conflict, and, more often than not, violent death. Is surviving all of this worth it? Is the pain of death worth enduring just to live longer?
With the second installment, this quandary is shared by Andy. Defying mortality might sound great in theory but at what cost? Do you really want to outlive your children, or the 10 generations that might follow them? This is where “The Old Guard” movies move beyond typical action-adventure fare and morph into heavy-duty, metaphysical, meaning-of-life territory.
Discord Arrives
The principal foil in this second installment is Discord (Uma Thurman), an immortal who is at least twice as old as Andy. Discord is beyond happy at remaining immortal and does quite a good job at convincing some of Andy’s crew to turn on her.Also new to the party is Henry Golding as Tuah, another immortal who is the unofficial chronicler of every immortal who has ever walked the Earth. My only gripe with the movie is that Golding’s character isn’t given enough to do.
Screenwriter Rucka and director Victoria Mahoney should be commended for not rushing the story along or killing off secondary characters without reason. The big problem with killing off someone who can live forever is coming up with viable and believable reasons. The filmmakers manage to pull it off with conviction.
Third Time’s the Charm
The question of whether or not there will be a third installment is answered with a resounding yes. The 2020 movie closed in a “maybe, maybe not” manner. The ending to this one is a total, complete cliff-hanger.This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If the quality remains high and most of the core cast (and Thurman) returns, it would be doable. That said, apart from “James Bond,” I can’t think of a single non-planned franchise longer than two installments that has ever worked.
Keep in mind that all three “Star Wars” trilogies were planned. The same goes for “The Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter.” Those last two franchises mentioned were based on previously published works with clearly defined endings.
Speaking of Bond, the 15-minute opening set piece taking place in Croatia rivals anything of that seen in the entire 25 installments of the 007 franchise.
The theory of “living forever” has been in world literature forever in multiple forms. What “The Old Guard” achieves where others have failed is in pointing out that eternal life does not equate to eternal joy.
