Banner image: Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Since David Lynch’s disastrous effort in 1984, fans have waited with bated breath for a definitive adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel, Dune. And when Denis Villeneuve released the first part of his reimagining in 2021, the response was very positive.
Villeneuve’s eerily atmospheric but grand filmmaking style perfectly complemented the source material’s strange mysticism. Now, he continues in fine form with the exquisitely shot, skillfully acted, and wholly absorbing part two.
Splitting the book roughly in half, the 2021 instalment introduced us to Paul (Timothée Chalamet), a gifted young nobleman with a great but mysterious destiny. His family, the mighty House Atriedes, are summoned by the Emperor to rule over the desert planet of Arrakis, replacing another noble clan, the despicable Harkonnens. Though terribly hostile, Arrakis is home to the most valuable commodity in the universe, Spice – a psychoactive drug that makes interstellar space travel possible.
However, it all turns out to be a ploy. Threatened by their rising influence, the Emperor and the Harkonnens wipe out nearly all of the Atreides and their followers – including Paul’s father (Oscar Isaac). Paul and his mother (Rebecca Ferguson) survive but are cast into the wilds of the desert. Here, they take up with the native population, the Fremen – many of whom believe Paul is a prophet destined to liberate them.
Dune: Part Two picks up nearly immediately after the first. Paul must choose whether to uphold his morals or weaponise his messiah standing and rally the Fremen into action against his enemies.
Timothée Chalamet in Dune: Part Two. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
While it’s a continuation of the story, part two feels like its own distinct beast. There was something regal and comparatively reserved about the first instalment – fitting for the Greek tragedy-esque plot. But with this one, Villeneuve descends into a vivid frenzy. The colour palette shifts from muted greys and blues to lucid oranges and yellows, and the plot structure is more erratic, giving the film a dream-like quality. You can’t help but feel like you’ve been driven to madness by the heat of the desert sun.
Despite this wildness, the craftsmanship on display is remarkable. It’s exquisitely shot by returning cinematographer Greig Fraser, and the production design team deliver a visual experience twice as dazzling as any Star Wars or Marvel movie with half the budget.
The narrative is sometimes rushed and murky, but Villeneuve is a confident storyteller. Though the book is famously complicated – with pages of intricate lore and indulgent internal monologues – he resists the temptation to spell everything out for us.
Instead, Villeneuve trusts in the intellect of his audience and lets the vagueness play into the film’s intriguing ambience. It’s a refreshing approach for a production of this magnitude, one that doesn’t try to appease audiences of all ages or keep viewers with one eye on Instagram in the loop. Dune: Part Two is a sci-fi flick for adults, and it demands all of your attention.
Another welcome aspect is the sparing use of action scenes – with the main drama playing out in the halls and caverns of Arrakis, not on the battlefield. But, when the action arrives, it comes in hard-hitting, concentrated doses. The fight scenes are unpretentiously choreographed but mesmerising to watch.
An instance that comes to mind is Paul’s first ride on a sandworm: one of the gigantic, fearsome creatures that lurk under the desert’s surface. It’s a nail-biting scene (with a vortex of sand whipping past as he struggles on the beast’s back) made infinitely more intense by the chaotic cacophony of Hans Zimmer’s score. It’s done so well, in fact, that you completely forget how preposterous the concept of riding worms through the desert actually is.
Stellan Skarsgård and Austin Butler in Dune: Part Two. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Though, the film certainly has some downsides. Big baddies, the Harkonnens, aren’t quite as terrifying this time around. While I’ve got a soft spot for Dave Bautista, his character didn’t do much more than stomp around, breathlessly shouting at his minions.
Oscar nominee Austin Butler was also a little disappointing. While he certainly looks the part, he seemed a little too preoccupied with sticking his tongue out, baring his black teeth, and impersonating Stellan Skarsgård (who plays his uncle in the film), rather than doing much real acting. Though I’ll admit, his impression is pitch-perfect – to the point where it’s sometimes tricky to tell which character is speaking.
However, in the cases of both Bautista and Butler, I suspect the fault lies as much with the material as the actor, as neither is given many opportunities to shine. The same is true for the always-excellent Florence Pugh.
Zendaya, who plays Chani – a fierce warrior and Paul’s romantic interest – is a standout. As is Javier Bardem, who lends a welcome comic relief as Stilgar, leader of the Fremen. Chalamet, too, really comes into his own in the final third, assuming a commanding presence we haven’t yet seen from the young actor.
All in all, Dune: Part Two is a visually magnificent, deliciously enigmatic, and boldly told spectacle, helmed by a director with an evident love and respect for Frank Herbert’s works. And while some viewers will be a little perplexed and disappointed by the unconventional ending, if Villeneuve gets his way, we’ll be returning to the sands of Arrakis for one final time in part three.
Dune: Part Two is in cinemas on Friday, March 1st 2024.
Are you going to see Dune: Part Two? Or have you already seen it? If so, we’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.