A Quiet Place 2 is the first blockbuster movie being shown in theaters after the Pandemic and it was great to be back. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt worked together on the first one and here we are for a sequel! So many people say that couples working together seems like a disaster, but they seem to make it work. Now, Let’s just see if lightning strikes twice! Quiet Place 2 is the sequel and picks up right where the first one left off. They even start the film with a little origin story scene, making sure that we all remember why we are here and what is happening. There are new challenges to face, but like the first, there are plenty of jump scares and heartfelt moments. While John Krasinksi didn’t make it through the second one, Emily Blunt definitely revives the emotional struggle that comes with “momming” two kids in a tragic situation.
The acting is nothing spectacular, but something has to be said for actors who can express characters in silence while retaining suspension of disbelief. I don’t know that The Academy will be considering them, but the acting is definitely better than a lot of movies out there. Emily Blunt does a great job and with the addition of Cillian Murphy, you have two great character actors that bring a lot to the table and make the movie better than it is. If you think Cillian Murphey can’t hold his own as an actor then you clearly need to check out Peaky Blinders on Netflix!
The writing left a little bit to be desired, but not a lot. I thought that the dialogue was ok and the plot seemed viable. This film is a good continuation of the first and adding the origin story makes it better. But somehow the story fell just a little short for me. I didn’t think it was unbearable, but I wasn’t amazed. Maybe this movie is setting up a third film to round off the A Quiet Place trilogy. It would be doable. Color and lighting isn’t huge, as far as manipulation in this film. But, you will notice a few little tricks here and there, if you’re paying attention. The beauty is that if you’re not, it is seemless enough that it rolls through and adds to the intensity of this horror film.
Cinematography and direction don’t offer anything new, so there isn’t a lot to talk about. But, it is easy to forget that the Quiet Place films are debuts for John Krasinski. While he hasn’t established his style, yet, it isn’t obvious that he’s new to this. I’m not saying they’re bad films, but Krasinski hasn’t directed his Oscar worthy film yet. Overall, it was a good movie. It wasn’t amazing or innovative, but if you enjoyed the first one you will enjoy the second. If you haven’t seen either, they are worth watching on a binge. But, don’t expect Citizen Kane. I give it an eight, because we don’t do halves around here and it’s not quite a nine. But, it’s worth a matinee ticket if you have a date that you want jumping into your shoulders/arms. It’s a good film to see in the theaters while getting back to a theater after the Pandemic.
