Reel Review Roundup

A Quiet Place Part II (M)

Directed by: John Krasinski

Starring: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy

Review by: Julian Wright

The story of one family evading a horde of human slaughtering, sound sensitive aliens continues in John Krasinki’s thrilling and clever but not entirely airtight tale of terror.

After their home is destroyed, the Abbott family Evelyn (Emily Blunt), Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and newborn seek refuge in world with very few living people left.

They come across former friend Emmett (Cillian Murphy) who has been hiding out in isolation, but Regan is determined to find who is transmitting via radio a single song on loop. With her recent discovery that her hearing aid emits a pitch that, when amplified, weakens the aliens, she is confident she can help save others.

But reaching other people, if there even are people out there, is not an easy task with those vicious creatures in abundance.

A Quiet Place Part II is just as interested in expanding its story and moving it forward as it with mounting some terrifying sequences and effective jump scares, which places it firmly on par with the first, which became a breakout hit and crowd favourite.

The key factor is a likable family that you hate to see in danger. This time, the story breaks into three threads: Regan and Emmett seeking other survivors, Evelyn venturing out for more supplies and Marcus (after suffering a nasty bear trap related injury) caring for his baby brother while making poor decisions that put them in danger.

This tack leads to an unforgettable and excruciatingly intense extended sequence that flicks between the three threads.

Once again, this franchise not only fills the gap of representation, making one’s disability their strength but also elevates the next generation as the heroes, achieving what the adults cannot or have not – the future of the world is in their hands and they are more than capable of handling the situation.

The only disappointment is that all it all builds to a familiar conclusion that has an air of deja vu over it – we saw this almost beat for beat in the last film.

But the ride up until that point is roller-coaster-like with breathless pacing and thrilling jolts, the kind of satisfying fright-fest that you don’t mind spilling your popcorn over.

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