Movie Review: “A Quiet Place Part II” is an efficiently crafted continuation of the 2018 sleeper hit

MOVIE REVIEW: A QUIET PLACE PART II (PG-13)

“A Quiet Place Part II” is an efficient, briskly paced follow-up to 2018’s surprise sleeper hit. It could be argued that this sequel is more of the same but you know what? If it ain’t broke, there’s no reason to fix it. In fact, this isn’t so much a sequel as it is a direct continuation of the same story.

“A Quiet Place Part II” opens up giving us a little glimpse into the day the monsters arrived. In addition to setting the stage for the terror that will eventually follow, it’s also a wonderful excuse for director John Krasinski to reprise his role as likable Abbott family patriarch, Lee. As the warm and cozy small town that serves as this film’s backdrop is focussed on a baseball game–in which young Marcus Abbott (Noah Jupe) is a part of the action– a strange fireball streaks across the sky and along with it, something not of this Earth. Almost immediately, this town is under siege by monsters from above in a thrilling opener that’s as chaotic as it is intense. Following said opener, “A Quiet Place Part II” jumps to the morning following the events that closed out the first film. Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) with a newborn in tow and her children Marcus and Regan (Millicent Simmonds) by her side, must survive a world quickly going to hell. She and her kids opt to leave their home and head out on a treacherous trek that will, hopefully, lead them to a better life.

Krasinski has a terrific eye as a storyteller and while he’s directed before (“The Hollars”), he seems to have found his calling in the thriller genre. His deft touch and attention to character make for a movie that is both large scale and intimate in equal measure. What’s more,  as was the case with the first picture, “A Quiet Place Part II” moves at a quick clip. Sometimes, a little too quick. That said, hats off to Krasinski for ditching the “bigger is better” mantra that often comes with most sequels and for allowing this movie to be very much of the same ilk. Again, this is more of a direct continuation. To put a finer point on it, this is a story of the Abbotts.  It’s not a story about the creatures that stand in their way.

Krasinski mounts some very impressive set pieces in this picture including a doozy of an opener that’s punctuated by, among other things, a “Children of Men”-inspired oner featuring a car-bound Evelyn and a speeding bus. Elsewhere in this film, you will feel Krasinski’s love of everything from the works of Steven Spielberg (most notably “Jurassic Park”) to M. Night Shyamalan’s “Signs.” But this isn’t to say that “A Quiet Place Part II” feels like a ripoff. No, Krasinski has built his own world here and it’s these characters and their relationships that truly set this film apart.

Blunt oozes vulnerability as a frightened but determined mother who is left to protect her family at just about any cost. New to the fold is a wonderfully understated Cillian Murphy as Emmett,  a man with his own set of problems whose hardened ways are challenged upon bonding with the Abbotts. As strong as Blunt and Murphy are, however,  “A Quiet Place Part II” really belongs to the youngsters. Jupe and Simmonds are stellar as the Abbott siblings and in a way, this is a story about a couple of kids who have no choice but to grow up rather quickly, so it makes sense that Marcus and Regan are front and center.  Both of these terrific young actors bring plenty of emotional weight to the proceedings and it’s a smart move on Krasinski’s part to put an emphasis on them in this movie.

Of course, you can’t talk about an efficiently made thriller like  “A Quiet Place Part II” without mentioning the technical attributes. Once again, the sound design in this picture is key.  It’s simply an essential part of the experience and without it, much of this film’s unbearable tension would potentially be lost. Props are also in order to the visual effects team,  cinematographer Polly Morgan, editor Michael P. Shawver, and composer Marco Beltrami for his effective score.

One could pick apart certain aspects of “A Quiet Place Part II.” Yes, there are a couple of moments in which characters do seemingly dumb things and it does feel a little bit strange that from the get-go, the Abbotts seem to be a little ahead of the game in their knowledge that silence might be the key to survival. There are also moments that are a little conveniently pat (particularly during the final act.) Such nitpicking does feel a bit petty in the grand scheme of things, though, as by and large, “A Quiet Place Part II” functions beautifully as a tension-filled thriller/creature feature. What’s more, where shows like “The Walking Dead” seem to go a little too far with the whole  “People are the real monsters.” scenario, this movie feels refreshingly subtle in comparison. There are certainly some bad people in this film, but for all the doom, gloom, and monster carnage on display, “A Quiet Place Part II” offers up a grander sense of hope and in today’s world, we can certainly all use a little more of that.