Although it is a sequel, ‘A Quiet Place II’ takes on a significant role during this post-pandemic time. It is one of the first blockbusters to open in wide release with COVID-19 waning. The movie was originally expected to be released in March 2020. Over a year later, it is now helping movie theaters make a comeback. ‘A Quiet Place II’ is a movie that needs to be seen in a dark cinema. You just cannot replicate that same kind of silence at home. A crunch of an apple, the sound of footsteps or a car door closing, all contribute to the terror that is lurking around the corner. Thanks to writer/director John Krasinski understanding the craft of suspense, ‘A Quiet Place II’ is solid entertainment.
Krasinski has a dilemma. How does he open the story without retreading everything? He skillfully goes back in time to “Day 1.” We get to see the Abbott family at a little league baseball game. Marcus (Noah Jupe) is at bat. Evelyn (Emily Blunt) is signing to him to relax and breathe. Lee (Krasinski) and Regan (Millicent Simmonds) are sitting in the bleachers. Suddenly, an event takes place in the sky and catastrophe strikes. The mayhem goes into overdrive. Out of nowhere, aliens invade and terrorize the small picturesque town. It’s a white-knuckle sequence and this is even before the movie title is shown on the screen! Fast Forward to the present and Evelyn struggles to find a safe haven for her kids and a baby that likes to cry like most of them do.
The way the tension stays ramped up is by splitting up the key characters. That’s right. You have Regan running off to find out who is playing the song “Beyond the Sea” on the radio. Her best defense against the spider-monsters is using high frequency sounds. She is helped in her quest by Emmett (Cillian Murphy), a friend of the family. At first, he is reluctant but realizes it is his way for redemption after losing his wife and kid. Evelyn returns to town for medicine. Poor Marcus is relegated to caring for the newborn baby. It is an effective approach as the camera switches from one location to another while the alien creatures hunt and kill their prey.
Once again, Evelyn, Regan and Marcus show a close bond with their use of sign language. Regan’s journey to discover a refuge for her family takes on the strongest part of the story. She was the closest to her father and wants to be a proud legacy in his absence. Millicent Simmonds is the lead of the sequel and Emily Blunt takes on a more supporting role. She makes us empathize the emotional loss of her father. This is also why moviegoers will feel invested in ‘A Quiet Place II.’ The movie is a reflection on parenting and protecting our kids from the cold cruel world.
It is a tough job to make a good sequel. Krasinski manages to deliver a terrific movie that holds its own. It seems like the perfect remedy for audiences. As we take off our masks and get used to being around each other, ‘A Quiet Place II’ is the perfect thriller to get us back into movie theaters. Warning – chew popcorn loudly at your own risk!
