Just when you thought the cinematic experience provided by John Krasinski in A Quiet Place couldn’t be topped, the actor-director delivers an even greater experience that redefines the horror-survival genre. A Quiet Place Part II follows the Abbott family directly after the events of the film’s predecessor. The head of the household, Lee Abbott (Krasinski) has perished, leaving his widow, Evelyn (Emily Blunt), and children, Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and an unnamed newborn, to navigate the post-apocalyptic world in which they live, alone.
Unlike the first film, A Quiet Place Part II gives viewers some insight into how the post-apocalyptic world, infested with monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing, came to be. This was a welcomed introduction to the film, allowing us to revisit a more peaceful time while getting to learn a bit more about the characters. Though this was short-lived, this brief look into what life was like prior to the devastating cull of human beings, set the scene for what was to come throughout the rest of the film.
The film’s plot essentially followed a similar path to the previous film, with survival being the core essence of the film. It was incredible to watch the Abbott family overcome adversity by being forced to leave their home, without a moment to truly grieve the losses of their father and little brother, and seek shelter and safety elsewhere.
Of course, the inclusion of Cillian Murphy’s Emmett in this film was a dose of fresh air, giving the audience a different take of a survivor who had all but given up, that is, until he meets the Abbotts. The bond that he eventually develops with Regan, the eldest Abbott child, and their journey towards finding sanctuary for the family, gave the gamer in me a thrill, with the entire duration of their adventure feeling like something right out of the highly acclaimed PlayStation game, The Last of Us.
What I loved most about this film (and franchise) is that the film subtly portrays a coming of age story and the transition from being dependent to independent. In the first film, it was the Abbott parents who essentially looked out for their children. Every action and decision was made by them in order to protect their young. This is similar to the circle of life, wherein children are dependent on their parents for the first few years of their lives. In A Quiet Place Part II, we see that circle of life continue, with the Abbott children being at the forefront, doing what they felt needed to be done in order to protect their mother and newborn sibling. This portrayal mimics that of children becoming adults and returning the favour by looking after their parents.
The two older Abbott children really stole the show in this film, with acting that was superb considering their ages. The way in which their characters developed throughout the film was incredible to watch on screen, as were the relationships they had with each other. In many ways, their scenes gave me strong Stranger Things vibes, minus the retro 80s music.
Following each character through their attempt to survive was an emotional roller coaster that was enhanced by the use of minimal sound and excellent cinematography. The lack of sound throughout the entire film, combined with the use of closeups, truly emphasised the severity of the situation the characters were in and kept me on the edge of my seat.
The thrills were non stop in A Quiet Place Part II and I can’t speak highly enough of the incredible acting by Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe. There’s still so much left unspoken and unexplained which gives me hope that there may be an opportunity to do a prequel film or a third film to delve much deeper into the world that the Abbotts live in.
With everything that was shown on screen, there was no better way to experience this adrenaline pumping sequel than on the big screen, surrounded by other movie-goers, with audible gasps being heard during frightening ‘jump scare’ moments. This is exactly the kind of atmosphere that is very much needed to truly enjoy a film like A Quiet Place Part II. I can’t recommend this film enough and encourage you to watch this at your local cinema!