Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

REVIEW:

From the outset you can tell the movie is going to be darker than the original. Where The Curse of the Black Pearl felt mischievous and adventurous, Dead Man’s Chest leans into a more sinister energy. I probably wouldn’t recommend watching it with younger children as it’s definitely more targeted towards an older audience. The tone is set very early with the unsettling image of a crow pecking at a man’s eye, a sharp reminder that the seas Jack Sparrow sails aren’t all fun and games.

That being said, the film never abandons the wit and light-heartedness you’d expect from this franchise. Jack’s antics, Elizabeth’s sharp wit, and Will’s ever-loyal sense of duty give the story that familiar charm. The jokes land, the banter between characters feels lived in, and it’s so great to be back with Jack, Will, and Elizabeth again. This balance between humour and menace is a difficult line to walk, but the movie manages to pull it off without losing either side of its identity.

The production itself feels enormous compared to the first entry. Everything is bigger, the sets, the action sequences, the sheer scope of the story. I actually looked into it while writing this review and discovered that the budget was significantly higher, and you can see every penny of it on screen. From sprawling island locations to the haunting interiors of ships, it’s a visual feast that elevates the swashbuckling adventure to blockbuster heights.

Of course, some moments stick in your mind for reasons other than scale. As a dog person, I was practically shouting at the screen to “go back and rescue the poor dog” when it was left running from the Cannibal Tribe. For all the ghosts, curses, and sea monsters in this film, that scrappy little pup sprinting across the beach is played completely for laughs. It’s a silly moment, but it perfectly shows how this franchise loves to mix danger with comedy in its own unique way.

New additions to the cast also shine. Naomie Harris brings an eccentric, mysterious edge as Tia Dalma, and Bill Nighy is an inspired choice for Davy Jones. His performance is commanding, cruel, and oddly tragic, exactly what you want from a so called “heartless” villain. His tentacled appearance is a masterclass in CGI design, instantly iconic. And the Flying Dutchman itself is equally impressive, a ship that feels alive with rot and dread. The sequence where it submerges beneath the waves as if you’re standing on the helm is genuinely breathtaking.

That said, the film doesn’t quite hit full sail straight away. It’s nearly an hour before the main narrative about the titular chest begins to take shape, and that slow start might test the patience of some viewers. Still, once the story kicks into gear, it’s packed with unforgettable moments. Will Turner, in particular, feels like he has grown considerably since the first movie, he’s still the noble hero but now carries himself with more assurance and confidence, as though his experiences have toughened him.

For pure excitement, the sword fight between Jack, Will, and Norrington is easily a highlight. What begins as a duel quickly spirals into chaos across a beach, into a crumbling building, and eventually onto a detached spinning water wheel. It’s inventive, brilliantly choreographed, and exactly the kind of over the top spectacle you want from a Pirates sequel. These are the sequences that remind you why the series became such a juggernaut in the first place.

The ending delivers one of the best cliffhangers of any blockbuster trilogy. It leaves you desperate for the next chapter while still feeling like a natural place to pause. And don’t skip the end credits scene, while it has nothing to do with the central story, it’s a fun little extra that rewards those who stick around. Overall, the movie is undoubtedly bigger in ambition and execution, though that doesn’t necessarily make it better. The pacing is uneven, but the highs are spectacular, making Dead Man’s Chest a flawed but thoroughly entertaining continuation of the saga.