If I had to summarize this review in once sentence, it would be this: “Hollywood needs more movies like this”. Yes, I loved A Quiet Place Part 2, maybe in part because I had not gone to the theater in so long and really missed the experience, but I genuinely believe there is something to this movie that you don’t see a lot nowadays.
Much like the first movie, A Quiet Place Part 2 does not look to be overly meaningful of address an enigmatic theme to try to say something beyond what’s on screen. It just tries to be what it is: a tense, character-driven horror thriller, that keeps the audience engaged throughout with a sound structure, compelling performances, interesting concepts and a total mastery of the technical aspects of its production. And it succeeds.
That might be my main point in favor of this movie. It’s not trying to be an arthouse film, and it’s not a cash grabbing blockbuster. I have to applaud John Krasinski and all of the team behind the movie for their commitment to putting out a product with this level of quality, once again.
But enough gushing about the movie overall, let’s get into some specifics, without spoilers, so never fear, nothing will be revealed here.
For the second installment in this series we follow the Abbott family as they leave their farm after the tragic events of the first movie. Totally exhausted and with a new-born baby to protect, the family looks for shelter wherever it can. During this search they come across new perils, characters and set new objectives for themselves in trying to find a way to restore stability and safety to their lives.
The story is not particularly complex, or long for that matter, and much like the first movie, it doesn’t close on a definitive note. But it doesn’t need to. The movie succeeds in making you really connect with the characters due to the masterful buildup of tension and how the actors sell that tension and desperation without the need for excessive exposition or plot details. The opening of the movie does this spectacularly well, showing a brief glimpse of the Abbott family the day when the monsters first attacked, and it is brutal, scary, action-packed and chilling in the best of ways, setting the tone for the bleakness of the first act as we are drawn back into this world. There’s a great focus on the physicality of every movement our characters make which is key in a setting where the sound of every action of the characters puts them in jeopardy. It’s another great tool that Krasinski employs to bolster the tension.
Of course, without John Krasinski’s in the movie besides in the prologue, the movie introduces new players into the world, but without ever taking the focus from the Abbotts. Cillian Murphy’s Emmett is the one true addition to the cast, and one could fear that he would serve as a cut and paste substitute for the Lee character as the male lead. Thankfully, he’s anything but. Without spoiling, the movie goes out of its way to let you know that Emmett and Lee are not alike, and it does wonders for developing a new character with his own backstory, without relying on audience expectations to do the work for the script.
It should also be said that Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe do really great work as the Abbott children. Once again, the movie writes them as fully competent, interesting, thoughtful but nevertheless flawed in very distinct ways. Both go through different journeys in this movie and it is great to see them develop and come even more into their own, especially by the end of the story. Additionally, the most gruesome, painful and terrifying moments are sold so well by the pair, in addition to Emily Blunt, of course, making you feel like you’re actually there, in that horrible scenario, as the monsters are coming to consume you all.
Of course, no review of a movie in this setting would be complete without devoting a portion of it to the sound design. It’s the main reason why I would urge you to experience this movie in theaters with a good sound system if at all possible. This film calls on you to note when sound comes in and goes away, where it’s coming from and with how much intensity, and if you can notice these things, your brain will do the rest of the work and you’ll be on the edge of your seat. Not only that, but the movie takes advantage of story aspects to cue in moments of silence or noise, the main example being Simmonds’ character Regan, as her deafness justifies drowning out the sound in moments which are meant to be from her perspective.
One more aspect of note is the action and respective camerawork during it. One can tell that the sequel took advantage of its increased budget to be more ambitious and action-packed than the original. Moments of action have more movement and greater length, and the camera, while moving in a way that mimics all the rapid motion going on, is not so shaky as to not let us see what’s happening, which is a tough balance to strike. In addition, the CGI on the monsters is much better and you get several close looks at them and how hideous and terrifying they are, adding to the strain you’re already feeling along with the characters.
All in all, my only flaw in this movie, is that there is not more of it. But it didn’t need to be longer. It left me wanting more in a way that a good movie does. Everything that it could improve on when compared with the original is improved, and the developments in character and plot are well implemented and engaging. It just hooks you in from the first minute and it doesn’t let up. And it keeps surprising you at every turn with how well it’s made and with the thrill it’s making you feel. To me that’s the sign of thriller that does its job perfectly. Please make more Mr. Krasinski.