| Mystery | Thriller | Horror |
Director: John Krasinski
Producer: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, John Krasinski
Writer: John Krasinski
Release Date (Theaters): May 28, 2021, Wide
Runtime: 1h 37m
SUMMARY:
Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
PLOT:
A QUIET PLACE PART II starts by flashing back to the first day of the sound-seeking monster attacks before moving to Day 474, not long after the events of A Quiet Place. Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt), her daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), son Marcus (Noah Jupe), and a new baby must leave the ruined family stronghold in search of new lodgings. Regan finds a signal, and they head toward an abandoned industrial building. Unfortunately, they walk into a trap, and Marcus’ leg is snapped in a bear trap.
The building’s sole occupant, Emmett (Cillian Murphy), tells them to go away and that he can’t help them. But Regan discovers a song, Bobby Darin’s “By the Sea,” playing on the radio and realizes that it’s a clue — that there might yet be a safe place to go. She secretly heads off by herself to find out more, and Evelyn pleads with Emmett to follow her. Meanwhile, Evelyn realizes she needs medical supplies for Marcus and the baby and heads into town. The heroes must not only stay silent to avoid the monsters but also lookout for a dangerous new breed of subhumans.
MOVIE REVIEW:
It’s not perfect, but this admirable horror sequel — impeccably, skillfully directed by John Krasinski — operates with meticulous use of sound and editing. In A Quiet Place Part II, Krasinski briefly appears as Lee in a prologue/flashback, showing the first day of the monster invasion. It’s a taut sequence, recalling the early scenes of Hitchcock’s The Birds by using commonplace things for suspense. But the movie, released at the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, is even more powerful given its pre-attack images of a community together, hugging, sharing food, and gathering for a ball game. Then the story jumps ahead to right after A Quiet Place, where images of masks and a Johnson & Johnson first aid kit feel eerily recognizable.
Even if the overall story is somewhat familiar in spots, Krasinski creates beautiful cross-cutting sequences, wherein images rhyme and build upon one another, working in perfect harmony. One moment, with two simultaneous gasps for fresh air, is almost intoxicating. The soundtrack is focused on sounds — whistling wind, clanging metal, dripping water, etc. — turning them into a kind of language all its own. Simmonds’ Regan, who is deaf (both in real life and in the film) provides opportunities for even more intricate sound design, as the movie shows what her experiences might be like; she’s a powerful role model, not only for the Deaf community. It may once have been “just” a horror sequel, but thanks to the timing of its release, A Quiet Place Part II becomes a symbol for returning back to life.
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