One of the first major movies pushed back into oblivion because of the pandemic, was this unexpected (unwanted?) sequel to 2018’s surprise horror hit, A Quiet Place. We were supposed to get this movie early last year and we’re now getting the chance to see it among audiences ready for that big screen experience where you can judge your fellow movie patrons for eating snacks too loudly.
A Quiet Place Part II takes place immediately after the events of the last film. The Abbott family now ventures outside the “safety” of their farm and looks for more help from the outside world. However, they learn that monsters are not the only things to fear in their travels.
I will not be mentioning too much more of the story to avoid any spoilers, but similar to the first movie, there are jumps in time to show specific days of since the creatures took over. The intro to part II is absolutely captivating and suspenseful. If you’ve seen the first movie, you know what to expect, but it’s so incredible to watch mayhem and genuine terror unfold.
Jon Krasinski is back in the directing chair and doesn’t try to fix what isn’t broken. Part II is a near perfect successor to a movie that I believed didn’t need a follow-up. In the first movie, we spent so much time with this small family, that we (as the audience) became completely invested in their safety and well-being. Now, we get to follow the Abbotts and see what the road ahead has in store for them.
Emily Blunt is back as the world’s bravest mother. Few movie characters have dealt with what she had already and it only continues here. Millicient Simmonds (Regan) continues to be the standout for the franchise and it’s clear her acting skills have improved over time. She carries a significant portion of the movie. Yes, she’s just as stubborn this time around, so the character stays consistent, but the narrative gives her plenty to do with her plot. Cillian Murphy joins the cast as a troubled survivor named Emmett. Murphy is nearly unrecognizable in the role. His inclusion allows us to still fear the creatures, as he’s not as clued in to their weaknesses.
The creatures in these movies are surely divisive. The camera does not shy away from them. This movie, especially, wants to focus on their movements and just how dangerous these creatures are. Much of the thrills take place during the day and the creatures are fully shown. I respect the creature design and how real they feel, but by showing them too much, it takes away from the horror of mystery and anticipation.
I feel the first Quiet Place is the perfect gateway “scary movie” for people who don’t like scary movies. It’s a thrill ride with genuine tension, but the content is pretty clean. The sequel stays true to that as well. It’s really not a scary movie per se, but it has some really fun thrills. This time around, the movie jumps between different hazardous plots and creates twice the panic.
I’m happy to say that A Quiet Place Part II does not disappoint. If you enjoyed the first movie, there’s plenty more to have fun with here. It’s a great date movie (if you’re so inclined to get back to the theater) because it’s not overly horrific, but has plenty of thrills along the way. This, honestly, might be the reason to go back to theaters, because there’s nothing better than an audience trying to be as quiet as possible and jumping at all the right parts. It doesn’t quite nail the landing, but I’d be happy to see this world expand even more. B+
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