'A Quiet Place: Part II' Review

Synopsis: Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.

Runtime: 97 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for terror, violence, and bloody/disturbing images)

Who should see it? Fans of sci-fi horror and the first film.

Written and directed by John Krasinski, A Quiet Place: Part II picks up right where A Quiet Place left off. The first film snuck up on me as I was amazed that "Jim from The Office" had the sensibilities of a great horror director. Sequels are even trickier to pull off, especially in the shadow of such a fresh, original concept, so I once again tempered my expectations. The follow-up to Krasinski's 2018 mainstream horror hit was supposed to be experienced by audiences over a year ago. In fact, I had tickets to a double feature screening last March that was canceled about a week beforehand as cinemas shut down around the world in response to COVID-19. Naturally, I eagerly awaited the day I'd get to see the sequel. And I'm glad to say that day finally arrived as theaters appear to now be on the upswing!

In A Quiet Place: Part II, viewers get to explore more of the post-apocalyptic landscape teased by the first film. As the world expands, it's quite evident that the budget did as well. For one, there are more sets and locations for the family to explore, and the monsters are shown onscreen much more frequently. Krasinski also demonstrates a more refined control of the camera as the technical filmmaking gets a boost as well. Narratively, I was relieved that Part II never felt like it was retreading its predecessor. Like the first film, the story is simple but effective. Krasinski even develops a plethora of uniquely intense circumstances for his cast to face and ensure viewers are on the edge of their seats.

Something I didn't previously consider was that fending off the monsters would seem easier this time around since the Abbott family discovered their weakness at the end of the prior installment. I was surprised to see how Krasinski ensured the characters would remain vulnerable and face plenty of hair-raising challenges. The fight is more balanced, but the odds are not always in the Abbott family's favor as they struggle to survive. Krasinski also found creative solutions that allowed for more dialogue as opposed to the few spoken words in the first film. The sound design is once again the star of this sequel, as the hushed atmosphere ushers in a feeling of uneasiness at what's to come.

The quaint ensemble from the original film return, with a baby in tow and the notable additions of Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. Though Emily Blunt gets top billing, Millicent Simmonds is undoubtedly the film's lead. Simmonds astounded me in the original film but continues to impress here with a remarkably nuanced performance. That said, each member of the Abbott family is given time to shine, and Blunt, Murphy, Simmonds, and Jupe lend plenty of gravitas to this creature feature. If you watch the films back-to-back, it is admittedly noticeable that Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds aged between filming. However, I prefer suspending disbelief over any uncanny digital de-aging.

A Quiet Place: Part II may not match the emotional heights of the first, but the thrills, story, and character work are just as gripping. Without the element of surprise, Part II proves itself to be a sequel worthy of impassioned discussion.