Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: John Krasinski, Paramount Pictures, M 97 Minutes.
Following success of the Part 1 in 2018 actor/filmmaker John Krasinski returns to direct this suspenseful sequel with Emily Blunt reprising her role as Evelyn in addition to Millicent Simmonds as daughter Regan and Noah Jupe as her son Marcus.
As the movie opens there is a flashback to Day One where Evelyn and Lee (Krasinski) are scrambling to snatch Marcus and Regan to safety following the sudden arrival of alien creatures causing chaos to their small-town community.
The scene then switches to Day 474 when Evelyn together with her baby, Noah and Regan head towards a secure place to elude any further creatures before coming across the stranger Emmett (Cillian Murphy – Transcendence’).
It is while hiding in a broken-down building that Marcus and Regan discover a radio signal, coming from a nearby island, playing the song ‘Across the Sea’ on a loop which compels Regan to venture out on her own.
On learning of her daughter’s departure Evelyn appeals to Emmett to go after Regan and bring her back, only for him to find himself saving her from some savage dissidents including the creatures – due to the sounds arising from their encounter.
Meanwhile having to leave Marcus in the bunker to care for the baby Evelyn searches for essential supplies before being forced to confront the spider-like creature on her return.
At the same time that Emmett and Regan have reached the family-friendly island they then have to flee again from another attack from the ever-marauding creatures before returning to the bunker to rejoin the others.
With the movie approaching its conclusion Regan makes a crucial decision by weaponizing her audio device, involving a home-made hearing aid, which begins emitting high frequency sounds that causes the creatures to collapse.
Krasinski’s sequel is superbly directed, balancing the right amount of silence with any arising sounds while maintaining the suspense at a heightened level to match the interaction with the creatures.
Apart from Blunt’s captivating portrayal as Evelyn it is the performance from deaf actress Simmonds that stands out in this dramatic sci-fi thriller, not to mention Murphy’s complimentary role and Krasinski’s brief appearance.
With some of the plot still to be revealed everyone will have to wait to see Part 3 of ‘A Quiet Place’ – provided COVID does not again delay its much-anticipated release.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
