It’s fitting that A Quiet Place Part II was my first movie in the theaters since The Invisible Man in late February, 2020. I had plans to see its premiere on my birthday weekend of March 20th. We all know why that didn’t happen. So, here it is again 14 months later opening on Memorial Day weekend as one of the first movies back on screen in many locations around the country.
Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns, Girl on the Train) reprises her role as mother Evelyn. Her deaf daughter Regan is once again played by deaf actress Millicent Simmonds (Wonderstruck). Noah Jupe (Honey Boy, The Undoing) also returns as son Marcus. The family joins forces with friend Emmett, played by Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, Red Eye); a solo survivor reluctant to take on helping a family of four, especially one with a newborn. Djimon Hounsou appears briefly and you’ll have to have a good, quick eye to spot Scoot McNairy. John Krasinski (The Office, Jack Ryan) writes and directs again, along with appearing in the flashback at the beginning.
The film starts off anything but quiet. It’s “before” at a Little League game the day of the alien invasion. Panic and pandemonium. Crab-spider monsters on the rampage. Escape by car (backwards!). Then we’re right back where we left off – Evelyn and that silence-shattering shotgun cock. (This review assumes you’ve seen Part I.)
Sequels are tricky. The element of surprise is lost. In this case, the hellish post-apocalypse landscape is set. Crazy blind monsters are only a sound away. The family father and a young son are dead. Chances of surviving this bleak world are so slim. And, there is a baby.
The children take over in Part II. While Part I focused on the constant child-protecting mission of the parents, Marcus, and especially Regan, take the initiative and stand their ground in Part II. Regan’s cochlear implants are employed again as the only weapon to debilitate the monsters. The kids hear something on the radio. Regan thinks it’s trying to tell them something (kind of a stretch for me) and embarks on a mission to help the remaining humanity. Emmett goes after her. Meanwhile, Evelyn and Marcus are trying to keep the baby and themselves alive fighting off injuries, diminishing supplies, and the always-lurking monsters. Marcus faces his fears (which were many “before”) in a courageous act.
A Quiet Place II feels more like a blockbuster than the quieter original. The stakes are jacked up in Part II. It’s amplified, embellished, and faster-paced. The monsters are more visible. Despite their size and terrifying sound they seem to come out of the nowhere. You will jump out of the chair at least once (a few times for me). A couple of these scares were “gotcha” moments, but mostly it’s a no gimmicks nerve-wracking experience. The sound and musical score once again permeate through this mute world blending screeching and silence in an unsettling mix. The four main actors all excel in bringing their nightmare existence to life, particularly Regan. She uses signing, lip reading, facial expressions, and speaking to communicate throughout her treacherous journey. This is her movie.
The movie ends abruptly. Not so much a cliffhanger, but more like we’re still in the middle of this story. Rumor has it that Part III is in the works. For now, let’s celebrate what this movie means to us. Movies are here again! A Quiet Place II is leading the way out of the doldrums to the shared sights, sounds, and emotions of the movie theater experience. This is the epitome of a “big screen,” movie so let A Quiet Place II be your ticket back.
D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐
Trivia ? – In what 2014 sci-fi action thriller did Emily Blunt star in along with Tom Cruise?
Answer: Edge of Tomorrow