Constantine 2 (2025): Keanu Reeves Returns to the Occult in a Dark, Soul-Stirring Sequel
After two decades of fan anticipation, Constantine 2 has finally emerged from development limbo—and it was worth every second of the wait. Directed by Francis Lawrence, returning to helm the sequel to his 2005 cult classic, the film reunites audiences with Keanu Reeves as the iconic, chain-smoking exorcist and demonologist John Constantine. In a cinematic landscape full of capes and multiverses, Constantine 2 stands apart: gritty, gothic, and unapologetically spiritual.
The sequel picks up 15 years after the events of the first film. Constantine, weary and terminally ill once more, has been living off the radar, exorcising demons for cash and trying to keep out of Heaven’s and Hell’s politics. However, when a Vatican priest is mysteriously murdered mid-sermon—bursting into flame in front of a full congregation—Constantine is dragged back into the supernatural war he tried to leave behind.
The trail leads to a fractured alliance between Gabriel (a returning Tilda Swinton) and a rogue sect of angels seeking to collapse the veil between Earth and the afterlife. Their goal: to reforge the world in Heaven’s image—even if it means purging it through fire. As the balance between good and evil teeters, Constantine must work alongside a new partner, Sister Therese (portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy), a gifted psychic nun who harbors secrets of her own.
What unfolds is a dark, twisting journey that takes the audience through haunted catacombs beneath Rome, cursed back alleys of Los Angeles, and ethereal planes where time and morality are blurred. Constantine’s signature sarcasm remains intact, but Reeves’s performance is deeper, more reflective. He portrays John not just as a reluctant hero, but as a man haunted by past sins, questioning whether redemption is truly possible—or even worth it.
Visually, Constantine 2 is stunning. The hellscapes are more surreal and symbolic than ever before—less fire and brimstone, more psychological terror. The film uses practical effects and eerie cinematography by Greig Fraser to create a grounded yet otherworldly atmosphere. The transitions between Earth and the supernatural realm are seamless, often happening mid-dialogue or in flickers of shadow and light.
Composer Benjamin Wallfisch delivers a brooding score that weaves in themes from the original film while adding choral and industrial elements, heightening the spiritual dread and emotional weight of Constantine’s choices.
Fans will also appreciate callbacks to the first film—including appearances from Papa Midnite (Djimon Hounsou) and a terrifying new incarnation of Lucifer, once again played by Peter Stormare, whose scenes crackle with menace and dry wit.
Verdict: Constantine 2 is a rare sequel that honors its roots while evolving the story in meaningful ways. Darker, smarter, and emotionally resonant, it’s not just a return—it’s a resurrection. Keanu Reeves reminds us why Constantine is one of the most compelling antiheroes in modern cinema.
Hell may want him back—but Constantine still has work to do on Earth.
