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MOVIE REVIEW
'A Quiet Place Part II' Is A Worthy Sequel
By Dan Dubon | June 7, 2021
It's been a long road for Paramount's A Quiet Place Part 2, the much-anticipated sequel to 2018's surprise Sci-Fi/horror hit A Quiet Place. Originally slated to hit theaters last March, the sequel even had an official premiere, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced shutdowns all over the country mere days before the planned theatrical release. Paramount and director John Krasinski opted to shelve the movie until theaters reopened rather than releasing it on demand.
A Quiet Place Part 2 is finally here, and it was well worth the wait. It's a powerful continuation of the original story that retains all the aspects that worked in its predecessor while exploring new themes and character development.
Emily Blunt's performance is extraordinary, as is Murphy's. But it's Simmonds and Jupe who really shine, effectively portraying the vulnerability and fear of kids on the verge of adolescence. Again and again, these two must find the inner strength to carry on despite their youth. I look forward to seeing more of these talented young actors in future projects.
The original film was nominated for an Oscar for sound editing, and deservedly so. Sound was used to build suspense—the soft crunch of bare feet on sand, for instance, as the family crept along a path to get supplies—and extremely effective jump scares. And most scenes showing Regan's perspective went silent altogether to convey her deafness, and she often intuited when something horrible was happening from the expressions on her parents' faces. Krasinski wisely resisted the urge to one-up the sound design and editing with A Quiet Place Part 2, instructing his crew to avoid "trying to be cool" and instead just follow the basic rules set up by its predecessor. Those rules are just as effective the second time around.
The first film was very much about struggling to survive in the wake of sudden, unfathomable loss. The sequel sees the surviving members of the Abbott family trying to process their sadness and move on—eventually inspiring the grief-stricken Emmett to do the same. Both A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part 2 end rather abruptly. Sure, they end at sensible stopping points, but there's still plenty of storytelling Krasinski could do in the compelling world he has created. I'd love to see the story become a trilogy, with a third installment exploring the logical narrative and thematic next steps. Just don't make the Abbotts suffer yet another tragic loss. I'm not sure my heart could take it.
A Quiet Place Part 2 is now playing in select theaters. For those who are fully vaccinated and comfortable venturing back to theaters, this movie is well worth seeing on the big screen. For those who aren't, the film will premiere on Paramount+ in 45 days on July 12.
Grade: B
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