A QUIET PLACE PART II -- A Perfect Horror Film Sequel

Review by Dan Skip Allen

L-R: Marcus (Noah Jupe), Regan (Millicent Simmonds), and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) brave the unknown in "A Quiet Place Part II." Photo Credit: Jonny Cournoyer.

A Quiet Place was such a breath of fresh air in the horror genre three years ago. It announced John Krasinski as a director that we needed to watch in the future. When the sequel was announced right off the bat after the success of the first one, the anticipation was palpable. We waited with bated breath. Just when it was supposed to come out last year, the pandemic shut everything down including movie theaters. However, the wait was worth it because A Quiet Place Part II might be as good, if not better than the original.

We pick up right after the original film with Emily Blunt and her three children, the baby, the son played by Noah Jupe (The Undoing), and her deaf daughter played by Millicent Simmonds. After seeing the flames in the distance, they decide to venture out from the farm that is burning up and try to see who might be out there that can be of help to them. They run into an old family friend played by Cillian Murphy, but he has his own issues to deal with. He doesn't want anything to do with them.

A Quiet Place Part II doubles down on all of the things that made the first one so good. It uses silence to tell a great story that keeps people engaged throughout. It uses the technology that was created in the first film to great length. It established new characters and builds out the world Krasinski created so perfectly in the first film. It takes what we already know and expounds upon it with great vim and vigor. This film was the perfect follow-up to the original in so many ways. It was a perfect sequel.

Krasinski and the crew do a phenomenal job of crafting so many amazing shots with the camera. Shots come from all over the place. It's an embarrassment of riches how many great shots there are. This film also has some of the best editing in any film I've ever seen. This world has got a great overall visual look to it. It looks real and lived in.

L-R: Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) brave the unknown in "A Quiet Place Part II.” Photo Credit: Jonny Cournoyer.

Krasinski got great performances from himself, his wife, Emily Blunt, and the children in the first film, but Cillian Murphy and Millicent Simmonds do awards-worthy work in this film. This might be the work of Murphy's career as this man who has lost everything and has nothing to live for until his friend's family comes strolling along. Simmonds using sign language again can communicate so much while doing so little. She is so expressive in this role once again. And her character has too much to prove after the death of her father in the first film.

As a horror film, A Quiet Place Part II picks up right where the original left off as well. The while knuckle scares the first film left viewers with were hard-pressed to follow, yet Krasinski did just that. There so many scenes that had jump stares that were so effective in getting the vibe and feel of this sequel so right.

A Quiet Place Part II is an all-around great film that does what it set out to do. It will bring people back into theaters and scare the hell out of them. With great visuals, camera work, cinematography, and great performances from everybody involved, especially Cillian Murphy and Millicent Simmonds. The editing might be some of the best yet, creating a unique split scene environment I have never seen before. Horror fans and film aficionados alike are going to love this film as much as I did! I'm sure of it. It's a perfect film and sequel.

A Quiet Place Part II hits theaters on May 28.

Rating: 5/5