The Abbott family must leave their home, where they encounter an
old friend who agrees to help them find a way to fight the creatures. HORROR
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A Quiet Place Part II (2021)Written and Directed by John Krasinski
Starring Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, John Krasinski Sequel to 2018's A Quiet Place |
As many know, it is extremely rare, especially in horror, for a sequel to at least be as good as the original. But somehow it seems like John Krasinski pulled it off with A Quiet Place Part II. How does he do this? By doing exactly what a sequel is supposed to do. He continues the story from where we last left off in the first film while also opening up the world a bit more. He also goes a step further by adding a more action-oriented approach this time around. All of this comes together to create a sequel which is equal parts thrilling and horrifying while making me hungry for more. After these two films, I really hope to see Krasinski stick in the horror genre a bit more as he really seems to get it.
Based off the three things I mentioned earlier which makes this sequel so great, I’ll start with continuing the storyline. In this case, by starting exactly where the prior film ended. Here, we see our main characters trek out of their home as they must find a new place to stay. It’s here we dive into the character played by Cillian Murphy. An actor who tends to always give a great performance and it seems to be no different here. He plays the part of a broken man who is given a second chance and he is amazing to watch. As for opening up the world a bit, this installment introduces a lot of cool elements like an island being a safe haven since the creatures can’t swim and humans out to hurt others. This does a great job of feeling like an organic opening up of the lore instead of random things thrown in for the sake of a sequel. Now for that final element, the action. For once, this is a sequel which understands the audience knows what’s going on and instead of rehashing the same old scares, there are several set pieces which just feel bigger. Case in point, the excellent opening which depicts the town on the first day of the invasion. It’s thrilling and an early highpoint for this installment. This is exactly what I want in a sequel. The continuing story of the characters I love from the original. The addition of new, interesting characters. Opening up the lore a bit more leading to some fresh ideas I’m actually curious to get more of down the line. Not rehashing the scares from the original but injecting a bit of action to keep things fresh. And, above all, making me hungry for a third installment. One I can only hope maintains the strong quality of these two films due to some behind the scenes drama currently happening. |
I have been a pretty harsh critic of A Quiet Place. I found it boring, unfulfilling, and couldn't really understand why it became such a cultural phenomenon. I expected roughly the same from the sequel, but I couldn't have been more wrong. A Quiet Place Part II is the movie I wanted since the beginning. Rich with character development, rife with genuine scares, and one of the best opening acts from a horror movie I've seen in years. This is a film that must be seen in theaters. It's definitely the best way to experience the film.
After the epic opening that shows how this all started, we pick up immediately after the end of the first film. Evelyn (Blunt) and her kids must find a new home. When they run into Emmett (Murphy), a friend from before, he agrees to help them. Regan (Simmonds) becomes convinced that if she can get to a radio station, she can broadcast the hearing aide feedback and turn any radio into a weapon against the creatures. The film is her journey to find a way to stop these things. We get some intense moments with the creatures, which are much more plentiful and scary in this film. I physically jumped at least twice, which proved to me that this franchise might actually have a lot to offer. I was pleasantly surprised by A Quiet Place Part II. I went in with zero expectations, but now I can't stop singing this film's praises. The performances are all fantastic, particularly Cillian Murphy who steals the show. The sound design is again impeccable, and the flashbacks provide a strong background for this world, which is one thing I felt was missing from the first film. Color me impressed. |