A QUIET PLACE PART II Review–Scary Sequel Reveals a New World Beyond the Farm
Josh Millican
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A Quiet Place Part II starring Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, and Noah Jupe
Written by John Krasinski and based on characters by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
Directed by John Krasinski
Over a year ago, Paramount pulled A Quiet Place Part II from its pending release as theaters nationwide (and around the world) shuttered in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the film will finally hit theaters on May 28th. It’s ironic, isn’t it, that a film about the end of the world was stalled by what felt like a potentially real apocalypse. And now that it appears we’ve turned a corner, stir-crazy moviegoers are rushing back to theaters in order to see blockbusters on big screens–as they were intended. But now that we’ve come face-to-face with our mortality and our fragility as a species, will a film like A Quiet Place Part II still resonate with audiences looking for escapism? In other words, after facing what felt like the end of the world, does anyone really want to see a movie about it?
Luckily, A Quiet Place Part II is both worth the wait and (by design or coincidence) still relevant in a post-COVID horror landscape. True, we’re likely to see new genre trends moving into positions of prominence in the coming years; and I suspect films about the apocalypse will yield to more existential horror tropes. A Quiet Place Part II succeeds for being more than just a film about life after the collapse of society. Thematically, it’s about raising children during times of upheaval and coming of age while facing an uncertain future. It’s this incredibly timely subtext that makes the film special.
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It kicks off on “Day 1” of the alien invasion that is the backdrop of the budding franchise. A Quiet Place Part II is both a prequel and a sequel to the original A Quiet Place (released in 2018). Act One brings patriarch Lee Abbott (played by John Krasinski) back from the dead; illustrating how his wits and protective instincts saved his family from an early annihilation.
Jumping ahead to the immediate aftermath of 2018’s A Quiet Place, the sequel hammers home the fact that the surviving members of the Abbott family are in dier straights without him. The brood’s survival now falls squarely on the shoulders of matriarch Evelyn Abbott (played by Emily Blunt). Simultaneously, teens Regan and Marcus Abbott (played by Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe respectively) must come of age quickly if any of them are to survive. Regan is especially motivated to save her family (and the world) as a means of honoring her father’s legacy.
Cillian Murphy is the film’s X-Factor as Emmett. Though acquainted with the Abbott family before the invasion, the 15 months since have reduced him to a shadow of his former self. Without a family to keep him anchored and motivated, he’s become a hermit only interested in his own subsistence survival. When the Abbotts arrive on his doorstep uninvited, he’s all too eager to see them gone. A rapid succession of unforeseen events, however, sees him assuming the role of a surrogate father figure; rising to face seemingly insurmountable challenges, and proving his inherent worth.
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Like many films and TV shows that use an apocalyptic event as a jumping-off point, A Quiet Place Part II explores the idea that humans (with their fears and greed) can be more dangerous than any alien (or virus, or zombie, or repressive regime, etc.). Indeed, like The Walking Dead and other examples, we encounter both the worst and the best of humanity; Those who have abandoned all societal trappings and those who strive to both survive and thrive. A Quiet Place Part II builds to a climax that could indicate a turning point for the human race. But nothing is certain. A sequel in the form of another film or even a TV series now seems appropriate.
As in 2018’s A Quiet Place, Millicent Simmonds is the standout of A Quiet Place Part II. The film is most compelling when it’s focused on her and her overall character arch. Noah Jupe also shows growth as an actor. His Marcus Abbott more of a fully actualized person as opposed to just “a kid”. Ironically, A Quiet Place Part II is much louder than its predecessor; owing to intense action sequences featuring screeching monsters and mass destruction. While somewhat self-contained, A Quiet Place Part II builds a much larger world with plenty of space still to explore.
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A QUIET PLACE PART II
Summary
If you liked the first A Quiet Place, chances are A Quiet Place Part II will also resonate with you. It succeeds at being a true sequel that remains firmly rooting in the original while making strides into a broader universe.
