I’m going to give ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ perhaps the greatest compliment a sequel can receive; it’s necessary.
This isn’t a cash grab (though, given the popularity of the first film, I have little doubt the money will be there), nor is it re-heated leftovers; John Krasinski’s much anticipated follow-up (this baby was supposed to be in theaters almost a year and a half ago…..darn you for making us wait, COVID) to the surprise 2018 monster-riddled hit thriller is as equally chilling and – in a similarly unusual way, quite beautiful. In any case, so anxiety-fueled is ‘A Quiet Place Part II’, the edge of the seat has rarely seen this much action.
Building upon the foundation of chapter one, ‘Part II’ kicks off with a morsel of a prequel, flashing back to Day 1 (grimly referred to by a host of characters in the story simply as “that day”), when the small town, feel good, slice-of-apple-pie charm of the existence of Lee and Evelyn Abbott (Krasinski and his real-life spouse, Emily Blunt) was shattered by an extraterrestrial invasion. For those not familiar with the first film, the creatures are big, have long limbs with razor-like claws, deadly fangs and, while seemingly blind, have supersonic hearing. That means, one errant cough, one accidental snap of a branch or a squeaky door?….well, they’ll find you. And they will dine on you.
Fast forward to day 474. Now widowed (again, see the first movie, please) with two surviving children, one completely deaf AND a baby, Evelyn risks taking her family across the fields to an abandoned foundry where they find Emmett (Cillian Murphy), a one-time friend of her husband who is mourning his own family and doesn’t have the energy nor the patience to play hero. But daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) brings hope; the idea hinted at in the original that the beasts could be brought down by amplifying high-frequency feedback receives a major boost here – but it also brings with it tremendous risk. But then, walking across the room or having a conversation, even in whispered tones, is risky in THIS neighborhood.
If ‘Part II’ isn’t quite the masterpiece that its predecessor was, it’s only because, by expanding his terrifying world, Krasinski loses a bit of the insanely original claustrophobic tension he created the first time out. But the same devices are here, and they’re still extremely effective. And thank goodness, he doesn’t lose an ounce of the series’ heart, a definite difference maker. This is the kind of film that deserves a big screen and a room full of hush-hush nervous viewers. What a way to celebrate the return of goin’ to the movies!!
