A Quiet Place Part II Movie Review

Opens in theaters May 28

“A Quiet Place Part II” is both a short prequel and immediate follow-up to the 2018 hit movie “A Quiet Place”. Since it centers on the same family as in the first movie, the best thing is to see that movie first. In that way, you can see how seamlessly they have made the transition to “Part II”. When the Earth is invaded by alien creatures that hunt based on sound and not by sight – you will want to silently cheer for the Abbott family.

This movie opens before even the first movie got started. It takes us back to Day 1. This is back to small town life in a rural community, with local grocery store shopping and Little League games. But strange sightings in the sky give way to snarling alien monsters in the streets. Soon, there is chaos and confusion and death everywhere. It’s almost like COVID-19, in the form of big, nasty blind beasts…

Lee Abbott (played by John Krasinski) and his wife Evelyn (played by Emily Blunt) escape back their farm in the valley. They care for their three kids. There is Regan (played by Millicent Simmonds) is the oldest girl and is hearing disabled. Also, there is a younger son Marcus (played by Noah Jupe) and the little boy named Beau.

But when Part II gets really on track, it goes from Day 1 to Day 474. The family has lost Beau and most recently lost Lee. But the safe shelter they had on the farm is now gone. So it is up to Evelyn to lead the remaining family out to seek something new. That would be Regan, who discovered a secret anti-alien superpower in her squealing hearing aid. Also, there is Marcus who must get past his own fear and grief. But little boy named Beau did not make it. However, in the middle of an alien home invasion — in the prior movie — Evelyn gave birth to a newborn boy. He had better learn from the start to never make a peep…

Regan is able to trace out a route on the map, and finds a way direct the group to an old steel mill. They know someone is there now might be able to help. Instead of help, they find Emmett (played by Cillian Murphy). He has turned his back on society and on hope. The Abbotts find anger and booby-traps and not assistance. Now Marcus is injured and all supplies are low. But Emmett is amazed when he sees Regan and Evelyn take down one of the monsters. Marcus hears a radio signal, and Regan thinks it can only come from an island.

Marcus is attempting to recover, and the baby is trying to stay quiet. Evelyn runs off to a town to gather needed supplies. Regan decides to take off on her own to find a boat. But she is tracked by Emmett, and he is able to get her out of a jam. They know where the island is located, and they hope the docks have not been taken over by gangs of violent roving ‘Dock People’. Where everybody goes, they must not make a sound. The alien creatures that you might attract are even more deadly than the ‘Dock People’.

But there is a “Man on the Island” (played by Djimon Hounsou) who has a powerful shortwave radio on the island. Regan thinks that if she can get to that radio, she can broadcast her squeal-enhanced feedback over the air. That can stun the alien monsters just enough that people will be able take them out. If Regan and Emmitt can convince that Island Man to help them out, then many more people might have a chance to defeat the creatures.

But will Evelyn be able to face-off against an alien and help her family. Will Marcus be able control his fear enough to focus his rage on the alien? Will Regan be able use her own anti-alien superpower to bring down one of those nasty blind hunters? Will Emmett be able to recover even a little bit of his lost faith in humanity? Will the Little Baby Abbott ever get a name?

“A Quiet Place Part II” is an excellent way to slowly get comfortable with the movie going experience one again. The cast is superb, with the addition of Cillian Murphy being just top-notch. Emily Blunt delivers an emotion-packed performance. Millicent Simmonds really gets into the character of Regan – becoming more headstrong and confident with her decisions. The acting overall is terrific.

The story gets fractured at times, with some groups here and other groups over there. The tense suspense is chilling, and the monsters in action can terrify anybody. There are some questionable decisions made, but everyone knows how defend what they have done. John Krasinski is responsible for both the writing and directing this movie. He only co-wrote and directed the first one. He is becoming a more confident movie maker as time goes on.

This movie has been postponed since last Spring. The wait was imposed on the general population and on theater owners, and it hit them hard. What would be better then living through a self-imposed exile than to come out to root for a family also breaking new ground coming out into the world. That is why this movie is poised to open up in movie houses around the world and, quietly, become a roaring success.

Opens in theaters May 28