A Quiet Place Part II
(2021)
Dir: John Krasinski
97 min.

NO SPOILERS

It’s a story as old as cosmic dust: success breeds more attempts at success.  A Quiet Place (2018) was a beautifully crafted horror film, revealing it’s plot in a slow and easy burn. Even its protagonist, a sightless monster attracted to tear apart humans who can be found only when they make noise, is craftily revealed only in flashes at first, but on full display during our climax.  It touches on themes of survival, group cohesion, the power of love and its doom-bound sacrifice.

AQPPII tries and almost succeeds at being as good, yet IMHO in its attempt at greater complexity comes directorial tumult.  This is not to say that John Krazinski’s directing is poor, indeed I consider him to be a rising star in movie directing.  Yet combined with a script that tries to achieve too much at the same exact time, I cannot help but think the constant switching between scenes at one key sequence and at the very end misses the mark on a few occasions.

This is both a prequel and a sequel to AQP.  The first ½ of the first reel tells the story of our characters in AQP before the events of that film, while introducing a new character to us in the form of Cillian Murphy, who finally and perfectly plays a decent guy for once.  The first film’s settlement becomes abandoned, for a reason never made believable, with a new setting in its place, new situations and of course Cillian Murphy, whom we met earlier.  The flow and progress are not as tense and enjoyable as before, while some of the same setups occur multiple times.

Despite the inevitable trip-ups with increased complexity, the film is now entrenched as part of a successful film franchise, and most likely more sequels and spin-offs are already in the planning.  Please do see AQPPII.  But if you wait until it’s out of the theatres, I won’t judge you too harshly.

1-10: 6.5