A second lockdown due to the pandemic had yet again caused the cinemas to close, so what better film to reintroduce yourself to the sweet smelling, darkened multiplex screens than watching A Quiet Place Part II? I was fortunate to see this on 7th June 2021.
It has been said again and again that you should see this on the big screen with the best sound system so you can appreciate the full impact of what you are seeing but most importantly, what you are hearing. Or, in this case, what you are not hearing.
Its predecessor A Quiet Place (2018) scored well (7.5 IMDB, 83% Audience Rotten Tomatoes) and was critically well received this meant that A Quiet Place Part II had a lot to live up to. What is worth keeping in mind is that this is part II not 2. Already letting us know that this will be a continuation of the first film, and with regards to the ratings it has proven to do so. At the time of publishing the sequel has scored very well (7.8 IMDB, 93% Audience Rotten Tomatoes). If we pay attention to its tagline ‘Silence is NOT enough’ we know to expect action. Our heroes are going to have to do something, hiding and staying silent will not do. All of this has peaked my expectations, so did it deliver?
The film opens with a cataclysmic flashback in which we see Lee Abbot (John Krasinski) during the first moments of the invasion. It has the feel of real-time which allows you to become fully engrossed in the action and the suspension of disbelief kicks in. I have to say that this sequence alone was worth the ticket fee. Extended shot sequences and the crystal-clear sound creates a wholly immersive experience. I’m in!
Lee’s widow Evelyn (Emily Blunt) continues the story for us aided by Emmett (Cillian Murphy) a reluctant assistant to her plight. Her two children Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Regan (Millicent Simmonds) are in tow, but this time are less of a hinderance as we may have felt in the original film. Also featuring was the nail. I hope you have seen A Quiet Place and if you have, I shouldn’t need to explain ‘the nail’ and I certainly wouldn’t have to, to my fellow cinema goers in this screening as most of the audience gasped and winced during it’s brief but poignant appearance this time around.
What is striking over the 1hr and 37mins is just how incredible Millicent Simmonds’ performance is. She portrays not a child so much this time but a young woman, who could potentially end the issue of the invaders but is also struggling with the dilemma of how she resolves it. The way she can convey fear and strength one facial expression is something I’ve not experiences by an actor in a long time.
Considering its run time; a lot has been packed into A Quiet Place Part II. It didn’t feel laboured, and it didn’t feel rushed. The development of Marcus and Regan as characters taken on a great leap and the addition of Emmett opens another back story ready for us to explore but maybe not in this instalment.
As this could be classed as a post-apocalyptic horror, I was obviously reminded of the survival efforts of those in the television series The Walking Dead or maybe the isolation felt in I Am Legend (2007). In parts, the brutality formed from the necessity of survival prompted Mad Max (1979) or dare I even include Escape from New York (1981). The way Regan had to rely on her surroundings for indication of trouble threw Hush (2016) to mind. Despite these comparisons, and with no Birdbox (2018) around, this film felt unique. The use of silence is key, not only as a set up for a heart-ceasing jump-scare but for us to understand Regan’s character and the battle she has with both with the aliens and her apparent disability.
If you cast your mind all the way back to 2018 Regan holds the key to what could lead to the alien’s downfall through her hearing aid. The drive for her is to find a way to mass transmit this pulse that seems to cause them quite a headache. With Emmett’s assistance she attempts to do this but not without running in to a spot of bother along the way. All the while Evelyn is trying to keep Marcus out of trouble and Marcus is trying to keep his baby brother safe – phew!
By the end of film, I felt exhausted, not only from utilising my dexterity in removing popcorn from its box so as not to cause any sound, but from some incredible acting, awe-inspiring visuals and a claustrophobic fear caused by an out of use furnace. With plenty of jump-scares and scenes of incredible tension A Quiet Place Part II would be the best film to return to the cinema with. I can only agree with all the critics that tell you not to watch this on the small screen but go to your nearest cinema and watch it now!
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