Writer-director Christian Gudegast made his directorial debut back in 2018 with “Den of Thieves”, a crime thriller and heist film that sat in various stages of development for nearly 15 years. It was a suspenseful and action-packed feature that was far better than the reception it received from critics and even at the box office. Now seven years later, Gudegast is finally back for his sophomore effort, “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera”.

The first “Den of Thieves” left its story in an interesting spot and it certainly opened the door for a sequel. “Pantera” brings back the previous film’s two central characters and once again makes them the centerpiece. Gerard Butler reprises his role as the gritty and worn LAPD detective Nicholas “Big Nick” O’Brien. And O’Shea Jackson Jr. returns as Donnie Wilson, a once small-time criminal turned big-time thief after escaping to Europe with $30 million.

“Pantera” kicks off with the two characters in much different places. Donnie is living large in Europe but he hasn’t left behind the thrill of the heist. The film opens with him and his crew pulling off a daring job in Antwerp, Belgium, swiping diamonds for a broker named Jovanna (Evin Ahmad). Back in Los Angeles, Nick is fresh off a painful divorce and is still licking his wounds after being duped by Donnie. Nick is determined to track him down but the embarrassed police department would rather put it all behind them.

But Nick’s luck changes after he gets a tip that Donnie’s money is being moved to and from a bank in Panama. The cash trail leads him to Nice, France where Donnie and Jovanna have their sights set on an $850 million score in the highly secured World Diamond Center. The pair put together a crack team of fellow thieves and begin constructing a plan to infiltrate the heavily guarded diamond exchange and break into its impenetrable state-of-the-art vault.

Now here comes the swerve. After landing in Nice and paying a visit to the local police station for some intel, Nick tracks down Donnie and surprises him with a visit. But rather than arrest him, the disheveled and frustrated Nick tells Donnie he wants in on the job. And just like that Donnie finds himself right back in the middle of the game. But this time the stakes are even higher, especially after Donnie learns the diamonds he stole belonged to the Sicilian mafia.

From there Gudegast patiently yet meticulously maneuvers us through the surprisingly rich story. This time there are several more players besides our team of thieves. The cops, the mafia, even some angry ex-crew members, all have roles to play. Interestingly, the action takes a backseat this time around, with more time put into the various character dynamics especially between Nick and Donnie. Butler and Jackson Jr. play off each other well and they’re more equals this time around.

But of course everything is ultimately building towards the big heist which Gudegast lets play out at a tense real-time pace. He not only builds suspense but he’s able to sustain it through most of his film’s nail-biting final act. It’s capped off with an action-fueled payoff along with a couple of unexpected twists that leave the door cracked for a third film if this one does good numbers. And hopefully we won’t have to wait another seven years for it to come.

“Den of Thieves 2” comes across as more polished than its predecessor, yet it maintains some of the same grit that was a big part of the first film. This time we’re treated to a number of beautiful European vistas and it has a slightly lighter tone. There are a few times where we can feel its length. And it’s not always easy to understand what our thieves are doing, especially amid the big heist. But “Pantera” still makes for a worthwhile sequel and a solid expansion in what has become a genuinely exciting film series.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS