Dark Continent is less of a traditional sequel than expected, like The Purge - Anarchy, playing more as an expanded-world companion piece to Gareth Edwards' original low-budget hit. If the first film was an odd-couple road movie with added creatures, this film is The Hurt Locker with an alien enemy. In fact, take out the monsters and Dark Continent would stand up well as an emotionally and physically harrowing modern warfare movie. The metaphors are hardly subtle - who are the real monsters here? - and it is a bit over-long, but the film is well-shot, often interesting and has a strong cast. Joe Dempsie is great, and it is a shame that actors in genre movies such as this rarely get the wider recognition they deserve for terrific work, as Sam Keeley gives a really remarkable leading performance as the Detroit hoodlum turned traumatised soldier. There is clear potential for a third film in which mankind loses Earth to these strange invaders, but for now this strong sequel works well.
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