FILM REVIEW: "A QUIET PLACE: PART II" LOUDLY IMPROVES UPON ITS PREDECESSOR
A Quiet Place: Part II begins immediately after its predecessor; the Abbott family must make advances through the monster ridden wasteland of America, encountering new friends and foes on their search for sanctuary.
John Krasinski, AKA Jim from The Office, has obviously been taking notes since the previous film, and eagerly returns to write, direct and star in the second iteration of the little monster movie that could.
Krasinski brings forth a bold new world, riddled with heroes and villains, a heartfelt and emotional story of love and loss, and a whole lot of monster massacres. Evidently borrowing tips from Alfonso Cuarón's masterpiece Children of Men, Krasinski pulls no punches crafting a film he can be proud of.
A Quiet Place: Part II makes swift steps not to retread trodden ground from previous post-apocalyptic works, there may be blood hungry humans wandering about, reeking havoc as much as the monsters, but they do not impair the story or offer any unnecessary moral philosophy already sought in other works (e.g. The Road). Nor do humans villains take center stage (a good way to get to know someone is to ask what season did they stop watching The Walking Dead), instead Krasinski’s newly attuned directorial efforts turn the monsters from the first film into a far more terrifying and bloodthirsty version of themselves, without altering them or adding unnecessary lore for sequels sake.
Whilst the monsters scurry about, Emily Blunt (Sicario, The Devil Wears Prada), Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe return as the Abbott family, whilst new players Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders, Batman Begins) and Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) make their debuts in the lands of the lost.
Blunt is fantastic as usual, Murphy, Hounsou and Jupe all do their respective best; however it is Millicent Simmonds who shines throughout the film, venturing into the dangerous world in search of safety for her family. Simmonds does a terrific job holding the weight of the story on her shoulders whilst uttering few words, Simmonds herself is a deaf actress and her impairment plays a vital role to her character and the adventure she undertakes.
Cinematographer Polly Morgan (Legion) goes above and beyond to capture the ruthlessness and beauty of a world retaken by nature. Capturing the serenity and ensuing chaos with utmost clarity. Unlike the first A Quiet Place, you truly see how these monsters took over.
A Quiet Place: Part II opts for less jump scares than its predecessor, favouring the intensity of putting characters you know and love in mortal peril over having monsters constantly jump about.
Krasinski has chosen a bold new direction for the franchise, using the strengths of the previous film to craft a superior sequel. Empathising emotion over scares, and giving every cast member their moment to shine. Should Krasinski continue the franchise in this fashion, it'll be hard to stay quiet about the anticipation for A Quiet Place: Part III.
5/5
