I remember when I went to see A Quiet Place back in 2018, hesitantly and reluctantly, as horror films weren’t my forte (they still aren’t). Admittedly, I was blown away. After over a year of being delayed due to the global pandemic, A Quiet Place II is finally here and honestly, it was well worth the wait.
Perhaps some may have believed what director and writer John Krasinski created with A Quiet Place was a fluke, but it can’t be a fluke if Krasinski has managed to create a masterpiece twice. The way the sequel continues on from where the initial movie left off is practically seamless, so if you want the full experience, watch the first film (to re-jog your memory) directly before watching this new one.
The Abbott family, consisting of members Evelyn (Emily Blunt), Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and new baby Abbott are the surviving family members of Lee (John Krasinski). After the events of the first film, the family find themselves needing to leave their home for a (hopefully) safer life elsewhere. Along the way, they meet Emmett (Cillian Murphy) and have no choice but to confide in him and pray that the feeling is mutual.
The performances of the cast are phenomenal. I daresay, this is quite possibly the perfect film and although a sequel, I really see the two films more as a ‘Part 1 & Part 2’ structure, rather than two separate movies. Considering the fact that this was unintentional to begin with, as Kransinki initially considered the first A Quiet Place movie to be a stand-alone film, this is pretty impressive.
Unlike its predecessor, A Quiet Place II contains more dialogue, but that’s because not everyone knows how to use sign-language like the Abbott family. With audiences already aware of the fragile situation regarding surviving (and suffering) in silence, the idea of there being a need for more sound is frightening, let alone the family are already under duress from losing another family member.
A Quiet Place II takes the wheel away from the parental figures of the first film and allows for the Abbott family children, Regan and Marcus, played by Simmonds and Jupe respectively, to drive and take the lead. Regan is stubbornly adamant to follow in her father’s footsteps, whereas Marcus is a little more hesitant, due to his survival instincts kicking in. Both characters have excellent chemistry, even more so than in the first film, and the storytelling in this sequel provides excellent sibling synergy in this coming-of-age horror-like drama.
Seriously, the film feels more like a drama with some scary parts thrown in, rather than simply a horror film. It’s not a bad thing, actually, it is great for people like me who are usually too chicken to see a spooky film filled with jump scares. A Quiet Place isn’t just your average horror film either. It reinvents the horror genre, and this sequel is no different. Proudly carrying the torch and successfully using everything that was smartly built from the first feature, A Quiet Place II is brave, moving and fantastic from start to finish. The film provides a solid story with depth, heart, thrills, and is not afraid to violently tug at your heartstrings.
Without giving too much away, A Quiet Place II is one of the best films released this year and is nothing short of amazing. You will be far too enthralled to eat your popcorn (and it will be too loud in the cinema anyway, you really want people to hear you eating?), even when the film ends and you do feel somewhat satisfied, you will still want more and will be inspired to see this damn good sequel again. Seriously Mr Krasinski, when is the third one?
Run, don’t walk to see A Quiet Place II in cinemas now.