Following the events in A Quiet Place, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.
This review contains spoilers from the first A Quiet Place film only.
Sequels are always hit or miss. Studios are trying to capture that same magic that made the original successful. But there is more than just retelling the same story in a different way as they also have to create new scenarios that have a synergy with the facts we already know.
Director/Producer/Actor John Krasinski never planned for this to be a franchise or for it to continue after the first one. Thankfully once he decided it was the right idea he focused on creating something amazing instead of just coat-tailing. Is A Quiet Place 2 better than the first? Maybe not better but certainly elevated in many levels.
We were all ready to end our visit with the Abbott’s once we knew they had found a way to defeat the aliens. Lee (John Krasinski) had sacrificed his life and in doing so had given Regan (Millicent Simmonds) a chance to use her hearing implant as a weapon. The first film ended with mom and daughter killing the alien and ready to defend their property going forward.
A Quiet Place 2 gives us a quick glimpse of how it all started with the aliens then immediately jumps to exactly where the first one left off. A smart move by the filmmakers as it kept the runtime short and didn’t bog down in the past. But also understand that the first ten minutes of this film are crazy intense and fun. It was the perfect grab to get the audience involved and then keep us hooked until the end.
Regan, Evelyn (Emily Blunt), Marcus (Noah Jupe), and the baby now understand that they can no longer stay where they are without Lee. They set off in the direction of another signal fire in hopes that they find a new homestead. There they find Emmett (Cillian Murphy), a man who has lost his family and is in no mental shape to take in others. Of course things take place and their lives become entwined. Emmett and Regan set off on a mission to use Regan’s technology to possibly help others while Evelyn and Marcus stay behind and shelter.
If you loved the intensity of the first A Quiet Place film in how it used silence as a character you will totally drool over this one. Maybe it is me but the aliens seem more prominent and ferocious. I was scared to make noise in my seat for fear they would come through the walls. Krasinski and his team created many breath holding moments and jump scares that were used perfectly. It never felt cliche or forced. The entire 90-minutes – well other than about 3 minutes of odd storyline – feels completely organic.
For many this film will be a return to the theater. Movie palaces are now open and many mandates are lifted. There are obvious metaphors to the pandemic and how the Abbott’s shelter in place. Granted if we sneezed a horrible beast did not tear is to shreds, but there are other similarities.
A Quiet Place 2 is rated PG-13 for terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images. Not only does the story pick up where they left off but so does the quality, acting, and filmmaking. I give it 4 out of 5 H2O tanks. Go have fun with this one. To hear from the cast check out our podcast section.
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