‘A Quiet Place Part II’ – Review
The horrors are back and it’s time to fear the noise thanks to the arrival of writer-director John Krasinski’s highly anticipated sequel to A Quiet Place, A Quiet Place Part II, and this is one horror film that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole way through.
Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
Beginning moments after the shocking ending of A Quiet Place, A Quiet Place Part II quickly kicks into high gear and this is the cinematic horror experience that fans have long been waiting for….and the wait has definitely been worth it. Writer-director John Krasinski amps up the scares in this very clever sequel and has taken what worked so well in the first movie, the hostile ambience and quiet dis-ease of the film’s unique mixture of suspense and horror, and he’s cranked these up for maximum shock factor. And the result is a very scary and compelling film.
This time around Krasinski is able to devote himself completely to the direction of this terrifying sequel and he uses suspense and the formula of the thriller to his advantage in providing maximum scare value. Moment after moment the tension and terror rises, and just as the Abbott family clear one obstacle, another jumps up and ensnares them in it. Using multiple points of view and the uneasiness and fright that comes from the presence of noise and these terrifying creatures, Krasinski is able to keep the tension high and you’ll be holding your breath and gripping the frame of your chair for dear life with these thrills. While I won’t go into spoilers I will say that A Quiet Place Part II is exceptionally shocking and your heart rate will go through the roof with this one.
Taking centre stage in A Quiet Place Part II is Krasinski’s wife and fellow actress Emily Blunt who returns in the role of Dr. Evelyn Abbott, who having buried her husband at the end of the first film is now fighting to survive after fleeing from their destroyed farm. Blunt proved herself to be a compelling and strong character as Evelyn in the first film and she’s now very much a walking she-wolf who will do anything to ensure the survival of her children in the wake of new dangers. In a role that draws more from physical performance over dialogue, Blunt again excels and she completely holds your attention on screen.
Joining the action of A Quiet Place Part II, in a now larger canvas, is noted thespian Cillian Murphy in the role of Emmett, a former friend of the Abbott’s in a previous life, before the arrival of the monsters, and who is now a feral survivalist. Murphy makes for a character who you can never really place and his ambivalence and twisting nature only adds to the tension of A Quiet Place Part II. Murphy’s Emmett makes for a great foil for the characters of Evelyn and Regan Abbott, and you never quite know what he’s going to do next.
Millicent Simmonds, who made a huge impression on audiences with her role as Regan Abbott in A Quiet Place, takes a major step forward in A Quiet Place Part II, and she settles into the role and position that Krasinki’s Lee Abbott held in the first film. Venturing out into the outside world and armed with a way to fight back, Regan makes a quest to do her part to ensure the survival of her family and Simmonds certainly holds the audience’s attention with her performance.
Audiences who are seeking a good scare will be very pleased with the resulting action of A Quiet Place Part II, and this is horror cinema dialled all the way up. Krasinski’s handling of suspense and terror keep you on edge the whole way through and the addition of multiple narratives make for a very unsettling watch. Added into this is the untrustworthiness of a far more feral landscape, and the monsters have lost none of their dread. You may be tempted to scream during A Quiet Place Part II, but the sheer panic of this film will ultimately cause you to hold your breath.
A Quiet Place Part II delivers some incredible scares and this is the horror movie experience we’ve long been waiting for and Krasinski, Blunt and the whole team behind it knock it out of the park. So remember to keep the decibels low, and get ready for a rush of intense suspense because A Quiet Place Part II is back in cinemas and you’ll want to see this one on the biggest screen possible.
Image: Paramount Pictures
