Directed by John Krasinski
Starring Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds and Cillian Murphy

The life we once lived, now a thing of the past.
What was once normal has been superseded by a new normal that previously we could never have imagined.
Learning to adapt to this new normal and living this new life in some form of lock down conditions.
Acknowledging and seeing the devastation caused and coming to terms with the tragic loss of life.
Trying to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from an enemy in our world.
Holding onto hope that someday the normalcy and the life once had will return.

Sounds terribly familiar now, doesn’t it? With our lives and the state of our world today much more closely resembling what we saw pre-pandemic in A Quiet Place, I wonder if this equally excellent sequel will resonate and gain a more profound appreciation than its predecessor.

It is Day 464. After the tragic loss of her husband, Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) is forced to move her children, Marcus (Noah Jupe), Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and her newborn baby to a new safe haven somewhere in the outside world after the barn they were hiding in burnt down. That’s no easy feat in a post-apocalyptic world at the best times, let alone having to do so in utter silence. As we saw in A Quiet Place, one misstep, one mistake, one sound can cost you your life. Shortly into their barefoot trek, they are discovered by Emmett (Cillian Murphy), an acquaintance from the past who has suffered his own great loss and is wary of other monsters in the outside world.

After revisiting my own review of A Quiet Place from 2018, I must admit to underrating the film by at least ½ a star. A Quiet Place Part II is an impressively and organically seamless continuation of the story from the previous movie, yet given everything that has happened in our world in the time between the releases of the two movies, is a similar on-screen experience that feels completely different to last time. Please don’t take similar to mean repetitive though. One of the reasons I say A Quiet Place Part II is impressive is due to the pragmatic, focused and thoughtful writing and directing work of John Krasinski. The entirely plausible and fresh territory he sends each character throughout the film keeps it from ever becoming repetitive and exhibits the absolute purpose he’s applied to this project. As they were before, his young cast are more than up for any challenge he sends their way. This sequel relies more heavily on the performances from Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds. They absolutely excel. Those of you who loved the score and the constant presence of pulse-pounding tension throughout the first film will be relieved and pleased to know that these characteristics again seamlessly remain just as potent and constant in presence here. The direction this story traverses places the lives of these characters we know and care for so much in greater jeopardy with each passing minute, so you can be guaranteed for a ripping and gripping journey all over again.

A Quiet Place Part II is truly everything you want it to be. So, if you have a cinema in your vicinity, mask up if you need to, get out of the house and go see it now! Cinematic experiences as unique and collective as this are rare and priceless.

A very strong

A Quiet Place Part II is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from May 27.

Moviedoc thanks Paramount Pictures for the invitation to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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