Revenge is a dish best served cold, but for the villains of Taken 2, it comes screaming hot and with a side of grenades. Bryan Mills returns to the screen, this time not as the hunter, but as the hunted. Consequently, the man with a ‘very particular set of skills’ finds himself in the unfamiliar position of needing to be rescued.
Detailed Summary
The Aftermath in Tropojë
In Albania, crime lord Murad Krasniqi buries his son Marko and the other traffickers Bryan Mills killed in the first film. Overcome with grief and rage, Murad vows to exact revenge on Bryan. He tortures a corrupt official to learn Bryan’s identity and whereabouts.
A Surprise Trip to Istanbul
Meanwhile, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills is in Istanbul finishing a short-term security detail. He is pleasantly surprised when his ex-wife, Lenore, and daughter, Kim, decide to join him. Lenore is notably going through a painful separation from her new husband.
Their family reunion, however, is short-lived. Murad and his men have already arrived in the city. They swiftly begin tracking Bryan’s movements across Istanbul.
The Abduction
While out sightseeing, Bryan senses they are being followed. He instructs Lenore to run with him, but Murad’s men corner them in a tense chase through the city’s narrow streets. Realizing their capture is imminent, Bryan makes a crucial phone call to Kim.
He tells her to hide in their hotel room. He calmly explains that he and her mother are about to be taken. His captors then put a bag over his head, but not before he begins memorizing the sounds and turns of their route.
A Daughter’s Mission
Using a miniature phone hidden on his person, Bryan manages to contact Kim again. He instructs her to find his bag of equipment. Following his guidance, Kim sets off a grenade on a rooftop. Bryan uses the sound’s travel time to estimate her distance from his location.
A second grenade detonation allows him to triangulate his position more precisely. He then provides Kim with a series of directions to find the building where he and Lenore are being held captive.
Rooftop Chase and Embassy Escape
Kim successfully finds the hideout and drops a gun down a chimney, which Bryan uses to escape his captors. Lenore, however, is moved to another location. As a result, Bryan and Kim must flee together.
A chaotic car chase ensues through the streets of Istanbul. Kim, who has failed her driver’s test multiple times, takes the wheel. Under Bryan’s guidance, she drives with reckless abandon, eventually crashing their stolen taxi through the gates of the U.S. Embassy and into its courtyard.
The Final Confrontation
Bryan leaves Kim in the safety of the embassy and sets out to rescue Lenore. He systematically hunts down Murad’s remaining henchmen. His search ultimately leads him to a traditional Turkish bathhouse.
There, he finds Murad Krasniqi waiting. Bryan defeats the last of Murad’s bodyguards before facing the vengeful father alone.
Movie Ending
Bryan Mills finally corners Murad Krasniqi in the bathhouse. Murad’s men are all dead. Bryan disarms him and lays his own gun down, explaining that he is tired of the killing.
He offers Murad a choice. Bryan promises to let him go if Murad agrees to end his quest for vengeance. If Murad refuses, Bryan will kill him. Murad, seemingly defeated, agrees to the terms.
As Bryan turns to leave, however, Murad grabs the discarded gun to shoot him in the back. Anticipating this betrayal, Bryan reveals he had emptied the firearm. He then kills Murad by impaling him on a sharp towel hook. The cycle of revenge finally ends.
Weeks later, the Mills family is back together in Los Angeles. They celebrate with ice cream, and Kim introduces her nervous boyfriend, Jamie, to her father. Bryan jokingly tells Jamie to treat her well, concluding the film on a lighthearted note.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Taken 2 does not have any mid-credits or post-credits scenes. Once the final credits begin to roll, you are free to leave the theater.
Type of Movie
Taken 2 is an action-thriller that continues the high-stakes formula established by its predecessor. The tone is relentlessly tense and fast-paced, focusing on visceral combat and chase sequences.
Unlike the first film, which had a grittier, more grounded feel, this sequel embraces a more stylized and explosive cinematic approach. Director Olivier Megaton is known for his kinetic editing and slick action, which defines the movie’s overall atmosphere.
Cast
- Liam Neeson – Bryan Mills
- Maggie Grace – Kim Mills
- Famke Janssen – Lenore “Lenny” Mills-St. John
- Rade Šerbedžija – Murad Krasniqi
- Leland Orser – Sam Gilroy
- Jon Gries – Mark Casey
- D.B. Sweeney – Bernie Harris
- Luke Grimes – Jamie
Film Music and Composer
The score for Taken 2 was composed by Nathaniel Méchaly, who also scored the original Taken. Méchaly’s music enhances the film’s relentless pace. It blends electronic beats with orchestral elements to create a modern, high-energy action soundtrack.
A notable track is “Taken 2 – Main Theme,” which re-establishes the tense and propulsive sound of the franchise. The score effectively amplifies the suspense during chase scenes and the emotional weight of the family’s plight.
Filming Locations
The primary filming location for Taken 2 was Istanbul, Turkey. The city’s unique geography and architecture play a significant role in the film’s visual identity. For instance, the Grand Bazaar and winding, narrow streets provide a chaotic and claustrophobic backdrop for the main chase sequences.
Producers specifically chose Istanbul for its blend of European and Asian cultures, which creates a disorienting atmosphere for the Mills family. In addition, some scenes, particularly those at the beginning and end of the film, were shot in Los Angeles, California.
Awards and Nominations
Taken 2 did not receive major critical awards. It was, however, recognized in categories related to its action genre. The film was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure Film.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Director Olivier Megaton intentionally used a shaky camera and extremely rapid editing—sometimes with multiple cuts per second—to heighten the sense of chaos during fight scenes.
- Liam Neeson expressed a desire to evolve the character of Bryan Mills, making sure he was not just depicted as a cold-blooded killer but as a man exhausted by the violence he must commit.
- Maggie Grace, who plays Kim, performed many of her own stunts during the rooftop sequences. She worked with a stunt coordinator to ensure her movements looked authentic but safe.
- The script gave Kim a more active role in the sequel. This was a deliberate choice by the writers to show her character’s growth after the trauma of the first film.
Inspirations and References
Taken 2 is a direct sequel and its primary inspiration is the narrative and character arcs established in the first film, Taken (2008). The plot is entirely driven by the consequences of Bryan Mills’s actions in Paris.
Unlike many action films, it is not based on a pre-existing novel, comic book, or historical event. Instead, it builds upon the self-contained world created by screenwriters Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
An unrated, extended cut of Taken 2 was released on Blu-ray. This version contains several more minutes of footage, most of which consists of more graphic and prolonged violence.
For example, fight sequences are less frenetically edited and show more brutal impacts. Specific additions include Bryan breaking a man’s neck with more audible and visual force, as well as extended shootouts with more visible blood.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Taken 2 is an original screenplay written for the screen. It is not an adaptation of a book, short story, or any other literary work.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The Grenade Triangulation: Bryan, captured and hooded, calmly instructs Kim to detonate grenades on the rooftops of Istanbul so he can pinpoint his location by the sound. This scene perfectly encapsulates his calculated mindset under pressure.
- Kim’s Driving Test: The car chase through Istanbul with an inexperienced Kim at the wheel is a standout. It blends high-octane action with a touch of humor as she barrels through markets and alleyways while Bryan navigates.
- The Embassy Crash: The chase culminates with Kim crashing their stolen taxi through the heavily fortified gates of the U.S. Embassy, a desperate and effective move that secures her safety.
Iconic Quotes
- Bryan Mills: “Listen to me very carefully, Kim. Your mother and I are going to be taken. They’re going to take us to a place. A place I don’t know.”
- Murad Krasniqi: “He slaughtered our sons, our brothers. And you think he will just go away? He will not.”
- Bryan Mills: “What I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career in the dark. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.” (A callback to the first film)
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Callback to Saint-Clair: When Murad’s men abduct Bryan, one of them says, “Remember Saint-Clair?” This is the name of the Albanian trafficker Bryan electrocuted to death in the first film.
- Driving Test Failure: Early in the film, it’s mentioned that Kim failed her driving test. This detail amusingly pays off later during the frantic car chase through Istanbul.
- The Mini-Phone: The miniature cell phone Bryan uses to contact Kim is a classic spy gadget, a subtle nod to his CIA past and a trope common in the genre.
Trivia
- Despite overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics, Taken 2 was a massive financial success. It grossed over $376 million worldwide on a budget of just $45 million.
- Rade Šerbedžija, who plays the main villain Murad, is a renowned Croatian actor known to Western audiences for roles in films like Snatch and Mission: Impossible 2.
- The film’s poster tagline, “First they took his daughter. Now they’re coming for him,” became a widely recognized marketing slogan.
Why Watch?
If you’re looking for non-stop action and the satisfaction of seeing Liam Neeson dispatch villains with brutal efficiency, this film delivers. Taken 2 doubles down on the formula that made the first movie a sensation, offering thrilling chases and intense fight scenes.
Director’s Other Movies
- Transporter 3 (2008)
- Colombiana (2011)
- Taken 3 (2014)
- The Last Days of American Crime (2020)
