A Quiet Place 2 is a suspenseful and nervy horror-thriller, in which the Abbott family attempts to plot its way through a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind aliens with an acute sense of hearing. John Krasinksi writes and directs part two, featuring his real-life wife Emily Blunt (Evelyn), and not real-life children, Millicent Simmonds (Regan) and Noah Jupe (Marcus), reprising their roles from the first film.
The opening prologue, an action-packed and frenetic flashback sequence, partly a vehicle to introduce Cillian Murphy’s character (Emmett), is arguably the highlight of the film. The film begins on Day 1 (when the monsters first attacked) at a baseball game, in which it looks like Marcus would never have hit the ball if you gave him until Day 447 – fortunately for him the extra-terrestrials arrive before he strikes out. Carnage ensues, the family survives, very few others do, skip to Day 447 (approx.) and the terrifying silence that comes with it.
Despite the introduction of Cillian Murphy, Simmonds is the film’s real lead as she commences her quest to save the world or at least find a safe haven for her family. Family friend Emmett, who they bumped into 447 days after the baseball game, is recruited by Evelyn to ensure Regan’s safety. Regan shrewdly continues bare foot; Emmett is wearing clod-hopping boots (but apparently walks really quietly or something). As my partner says, “is that the only thing you’re questioning about this film?”
Well no, because we also see a gang of feral humans who survived 447 days beyond the apocalypse, suddenly forget that they can’t make a lot of noise otherwise the aliens will detect and destroy them. “Well are they the only two things you’re questioning about this film?” – Probably not.
However, it is an effective and engrossing follow-up to the original film. Simmonds is exceptional as the film’s lead. As Murphy said himself, Regan’s character “allows you to believe in more, and allows you to believe in yourself,” and this wouldn’t have been possible without Simmonds’ incredibly bold and confident performance alongside Murphy.
Throughout the film, the rest of the family also put themselves in unnecessarily dangerous circumstances to afford Krasinksi the opportunity to include some overly elaborate and artistically symmetrical situations.
The time will fly by; the film will make you jump and you will become desensitised to any non-Abbott family member death. The film ends very abruptly (like this blog piece) – now they need to tie it all together and complete the trilogy.
Clingfilm – That’s a wrap!
The film comes out on bank holiday Monday (31st May) in the UK for those that are interested.
ClingFilm 