This past week, the sequel to A Quiet Place came out, sending people back to movie theaters. A Quiet Place Part II picks up right where the first movie left off. But before that, we get to see what happened before the monsters arrived. In the first scene, John Krasinski returns as Lee Abbott walks through town. He goes from a local grocery store to his son, Marcus’s, baseball game. Every single sound he makes from his shoes clicking on the floor to yanking a produce bag is so much more enhanced because we all know what’s coming for them.
The Story
While the first movie is an inspired horror movie, part two just expands the world. However, the Abbott family no longer has the sanctuary of their home. Therefore, they must venture out to find refuge elsewhere, and with a newborn baby. They eventually come across an old friend, Emmett, played by Cillian Murphy. But that’s only after they get caught in some booby traps he’s left for the monsters. He, however, is less than pleased to see them and initially refuses to help. But Evelyn (played by Emily Blunt) pleads with him, revealing their newborn baby in a box. Plus, Marcus has a foot injury after stepping on a bear trap, so they can’t really get very far. As convincing as this is, Emmett’s still hesitant but lets them stay temporarily. Lee may no longer be there but Regan (played by Millicent Simmons) takes charge in his place.
While recuperating, Marcus finds music playing while switching between radio stations (wearing headphones, of course). However, Emmett informs them that the song, “Beyond the Sea”, has been on a constant loop for months now. Regan eventually puts together the fact that people are broadcasting it from a nearby island. But with Marcus injured and a newborn baby, moving the whole family feels pretty impossible. So, Regan decides to go there on her own, against her brother’s wishes. Evelyn, already caring for her two other kids, enlists Emmett’s help. But she just wants him to bring Regan back. But once Emmett finds her, she convinces him to help her get to the island as Evelyn stays with Marcus and the baby. And of course, they encounter the monsters as well as other survivors that also prove to be dangerous threats to their survival.
Final Thoughts
As harrowing as the first movie was, A Quiet Place Part II continues the story. But it still holds onto the same themes of how far you’d go to protect your family. Lee was very much the leader of the Abbott family but now that he’s gone, Regan becomes the focus of the movie. She’s still the same stubborn girl from the first movie, but she really comes into her own, character-wise. Lee’s clearly been a big influence on the family but on Regan especially because she heads toward the island because she believes (as well as Evelyn and Marcus) wholeheartedly that Lee would do the same. But Emmett’s character is very different from the Abbotts. He’s not only lost his loved ones but he also refuses to help others. But then again, he knows that the people left out there (excluding the Abbotts) aren’t all that great.
Emmett’s place, much like the Abbotts’ soundproof basement, has a furnace where they can go in and talk at a relatively normal volume (for a short amount of time). Therefore, there’s much more spoken dialogue when compared to the first movie. Then, there’s Regan, who’s now equipped with what feels like a superpower: her cochlear implant. Along with a handheld speaker, she almost feels invincible, but she’s quickly met with reality. But Emmett’s thankfully there to help along the way. Lastly, the scare sequences are just as if not more intense this time around. The Abbott family coming across all of Emmett’s booby traps was probably one of my favorite scenes. But all of the scares really work in A Quiet Place Part II.
A Quiet Place Part II is now playing in theaters.
