“That’s desperation.”
“It’s necessity.”
A sequel that is so close in tone and emotional impact as its predecessor but yet doesn’t feel like a copy and instead a natural continuation is something that isn’t really seen very often, but A Quiet Place Part II is a perfect and logical expansion of the first that was so effortlessly gripping, as it built upon a larger world of terror, whilst keeping everything that really mattered grounded in a smaller reality. John Krasinski takes everything that worked before and pushes it further for Part II, creating something that is just as good, with an even stronger conclusion.
The way the film’s narrative progresses without feeling unrealistic or with an uneven pace is probably its most impressive feat, Part II has no time jump, and leaves straight off from the moment the first film ended. It has a bolder introduction, and an even more built-up ending with stronger ramifications than the first had, which raises the question, if Part II can make the first look like a walk in the park, can Krasinski raise the bar again? At this point it wouldn’t surprise me to see him take things even further.
The way Krasinski makes connections between both films with scene placement and the use of sound is just so satisfying, Part II’s introduction isn’t just a matter of shock factor, it cleverly sets up the dynamics that drive the rest of the film, keeping the theme of family prevalent and just as impactful even as it morphs from what it was before.
In Part II Krasinski really said, I’m gonna turn these kids into horror icons, and with Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy providing excellent support, it’s Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe who take centre stage and lead the narrative forward. The ongoing theme of the children pushing things beyond what the adults can echoes the wider idea that the world beyond their small hideouts and bunkers is worth saving for their futures, and the future of their baby brother. This really was Simmonds’ film, and her character is easily the strongest here, she slowly rises into a natural lead that just suits her so well.
Bolder, and sharper, A Quiet Place Part II really pushes the boat out on a journey that makes you desperate to see it continue on again.
Horror, Drama | USA, 2020 | 15 | Cinema | 4th June 2021 (UK) | Paramount Pictures | Dir.John Krasinski | Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou
