A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

A Quiet Place was the rare sort of horror that was actually scary and told a powerfully moving story beyond the terrifying aspects. Well acted and crafted, it was a compelling story of just how overwhelmingly scary parenting can be. It turns out A Quiet Place Part II is the rare sort of sequel that deepens and enriches the first film while also telling a new story that isn't just repeating the themes of its predecessor. With prequel and sequel elements A Quiet Place Part II follows the Godfather Part II (perhaps the name is reference) model of sequels and it ends up being a very satisfying companion to the first film and a great movie in its own right. 

Part II evolves the themes of the story. While the first film was very much about the parents and the challenges, passions, fears, and struggles of parenting, this film focuses on the next generation and their effort to find their own path forward. One of the strengths of the first film was the centring of Millicent Simmonds' deaf character, to the point where her deafness was a strength (something mainstream media doesn't often show) and this film builds on that. She becomes a lead in the film and her innovation and courage are a central to the story. She has reached the moments in her life where she must forge her own path and it's a thrilling exploration of that evolution. 

Having said all that, one of the other strengths of the first film was its simplicity. It kept its story tight and could just do that very well. Like many sequels the pull here is to world build, expanding on what was there before and sometimes I felt the film erred on the side of explaining too much. The film gives away where the monsters come from pretty much and I'm not sure that added to it, perhaps even took something away. We also see much more of the monsters. I prefer the mystery of the first film. What they do here remains strong and compelling but sometimes just does a little too much for my tastes. 

Still, the story is a great one and like the first it will have you from the opening moments until the end, which it leaves unfinished somewhat. It feels like A Quiet Place needs to be a trilogy with where this story goes and I am all on board for another round. While the first film worked completely on its own, this film feels truly like a second chapter of one story and not simply another instalment like most horror films. It picks up from the final moments of the last film and sets up a third quite nicely. I imagine we will one day have a trilogy of films that you can sit down and watch as one epic in the vein of series like The Godfather or Back to the Future. 

A Quiet Place Part II

Starring: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, Scoot McNairy, John Krasinski

Writer/Director: John Krasinski