It’s not easy for kids to grow up – especially in an alien apocalypse. . . after all, what are they to do without Instagram and TikTok. All kidding aside, 2020’s A Quiet Place Part II turns the focus on the children, to great effect.
Once again written (this time on his own) and directed by John Krasinski, he makes the smart decision to open with a flashback that shows day one of the alien invasion. . . an adrenaline pumping action sequence featuring a lengthy one take car scene, both chaos and quiet hiding, as well as introducing us to a new character from the Abbott’s community, Emmett (Cillian Murphy).
Despite this quasi cold open, no time has passed at all. Picking up immediately after the original feature ended, mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt), deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), and panicked son Marcus (Noah Jupe), with new baby in tow, decide to leave the previous safety that was their farm. . . venturing out to look for other survivors. If the genesis film was a micro vision of a family in peril, this sequel opens our eyes to what is happening on a much grander scale.
Eventually finding Emmett (after absolute chaos), they hunker down with him below an old steel factory (an impressive real life location found in Buffalo) – much to his chagrin, the man asking them to leave in the morning.
Having other ideas, Regan, in many ways taking the lead in this picture, plans on fixing the world. . . after her brother hears a radio transmission playing Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea”. Seeing it as an avenue to use her cochlear implant as a weapon on a mass scale (after all, these blind creatures’ main weakness is their overly sensitive hearing), what she does not realize is what the world has become beyond her insulated viewpoint.
Soon, Emmett is trying to track the girl, her journey transporting her to what can only be deemed a train graveyard. . . the camera panning over a station left only with high heels, luggage, and passenger cars that have become tombs – eerie, to say the least.
With lightning quick aliens around every corner, there is always a tension in the air (especially since our lead is deaf – once again, sound and silence are used to great effect). . . but perhaps even worse is what has become of some of the humans that have survived – Scoot McNairy plays their leader in a harrowing marina sequence.
Evolving organically from the original film, this sequel doesn’t simply sit on its laurels, nor does it go for ridiculous over the top action packed follow-up, instead keeping focus on the characters we’ve grown to love. . . and slowly introducing them to the world around them. Emmett, in many ways their guide, is a deeply flawed character, this post-apocalyptic world having taken everything from him, breeding a lonesome and loathsome human who is afraid of being around other people. Their past is like something from a different time, the death and destruction fraying the community bond that once stood so strong in their region. It takes that certain magic that emanates from children to slowly coax him from his shell.
Woven together in a creative way, Krasinski brings three climactic storylines to a head, a master class in transition and editing that creates a unique tapestry. Combined with his passion for using practical effects and authentic locations (everything from the train and factory to marina are the real deal), as well as his decision to use true film (other than the marina sequence – which uses digital), each of these choices gives the feature a realistic, gritty, and immersive feel.
A worthy sequel, A Quiet Place Part II delivers in so many ways – further thriving on its original premise and old school thrills. And like its predecessor, it is crafted in such a way that you could hit the mute button on the dialogue, transforming it into a silent film and it wouldn’t suffer. A last note – it also has a fantastic cameo from Djimon Hounsou. So, there’s no need for me to be quiet in suggesting this motion picture, because I know, beyond a doubt, your heart will lead you here soon.