A Quiet Place Part II
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Skillful monster horror sequel has blood, peril.
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A Quiet Place Part II
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Based on 26 parent reviews
Your typical sequel!
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AWESOME MOVIE
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What's the Story?
A QUIET PLACE PART II starts by flashing back to the first day of the sound-seeking monster attacks before moving to Day 474, not long after the events of A Quiet Place. Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt), her daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), son Marcus (Noah Jupe), and new baby must leave the ruined family stronghold in search of new lodgings. Regan finds a signal, and they head toward an abandoned industrial building. Unfortunately, they walk into a trap, and Marcus' leg is snapped in a bear trap. The building's sole occupant, Emmett (Cillian Murphy), tells them to go away and that he can't help them. But Regan discovers a song, Bobby Darin's "By the Sea," playing on the radio and realizes that it's a clue -- that there might yet be a safe place to go. She secretly heads off by herself to find out more, and Evelyn pleads with Emmett to follow her. Meanwhile, Evelyn realizes she needs medical supplies for Marcus and the baby and heads into town. The heroes must not only stay silent to avoid the monsters but also look out for a dangerous new breed of subhumans.
Is It Any Good?
It's not perfect, but this admirable horror sequel -- impeccably, skillfully directed by John Krasinski -- operates with meticulous use of sound and editing. In A Quiet Place Part II, Krasinski briefly appears as Lee in a prologue/flashback, showing the first day of the monster invasion. It's a taut sequence, recalling the early scenes of Hitchcock's The Birds by using commonplace things for suspense. But the movie, released at the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, is even more powerful given its pre-attack images of a community together, hugging, sharing food, and gathering for a ball game. Then the story jumps ahead to right after A Quiet Place, where images of masks and a Johnson & Johnson first aid kit feel eerily recognizable.
Even if the overall story is somewhat familiar in spots, Krasinski creates beautiful cross-cutting sequences, wherein images rhyme and build upon one another, working in perfect harmony. One moment, with two simultaneous gasps for fresh air, is almost intoxicating. The soundtrack is focused on sounds -- whistling wind, clanging metal, dripping water, etc. -- turning them into a kind of language all its own. Simmonds' Regan, who is deaf (both in real life and in the film) provides opportunities for even more intricate sound design, as the movie shows what her experiences might be like; she's a powerful role model, not only for the Deaf community. It may once have been "just" a horror sequel, but thanks to the timing of its release, A Quiet Place Part II becomes a symbol for returning back to life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about A Quiet Place Part II's violence. How did it make you feel? How is the violence different when it's directed at monsters than when it's directed at humans?
What's the appeal of scary movies? Why do people sometimes like being scared?
Do you consider Regan a role model? How is her character an example of positive representation?
How does this sequel compare to the original? Did it seem like there was a good reason for a sequel?
How does the movie promote helping? If you can't help someone in one way, are there other ways of helping? How is the group of subhumans in the movie the opposite of helpful?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 28, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: July 27, 2021
- Cast: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds
- Director: John Krasinski
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images
- Last updated: April 26, 2023
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