‘A Quiet Place Part II’ Review: A Brilliantly, Stressful Thriller

It had been over 14 months since I had set foot inside a theater. Attending this screener for A Quiet Place Part II wasn’t only something I was excited for because I loved the first film (or even because I was excited to see my fellow critic friends), but because I was freaking ecstatic to watch a movie on the big screen again.

The joy of cinema, the smell of popcorn, and the act of getting completely lost in a story – well, it’s something that we’ve lost in the last year. While we’ve binged countless series on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max – and 3,000 other streaming platforms – none of that hold a candle to the magic of being in a theater.

I’ll stop there. Simply put, there wasn’t a more perfect film (for me) to celebrate the return to the movies.

So where does A Quiet Place Part II pick up? Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

A Quiet Place Part II Trailer

A Quiet Place Part II Review: What I Did and Didn’t Like

When we think of John Krasinski, most of us think of The Office‘s most loveable character, Jim Halpert. Seeing Krasinski as Jack Ryan or even Lee Abbott in the first A Quiet Place (and the first part of this film) is a bit of a jump for us. Krasinski did such outstanding work on The Office, that it’s hard for us to see him as an action star – or the star (and the writer and director behind) this thriller series. His creative range is awe-inspiring.

For me, horror films don’t impress me. I get excited – and then letdown. It never fails. However, psychological thrillers with a dash of aliens… for me, that always does the trick. I’ll have nightmares for weeks to come.

So what’s so remarkable about this film? A Quiet Place Part II seamlessly continues the story from the first movie, and it supplies a satisfying backstory of how everything started. Not to mention, it gives us so many more well-done “creature” scenes…

Everything about this sequel is rich. Emily Blunt gives another fantastic performance, and Cillian Murphy was an ingenious addition to the cast. Not to mention the kids, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe – both masterful in their roles. The acting, the script, the special effects, and the sound design – all come together for a beautiful hurricane of a thriller. This is the first film I’ve seen in over a year that gives me hope for normalcy. It’s exactly what my little thriller-loving, alien fangirl, art-loving heart needed.

Overall Thoughts

The last year has been straight out of a horror film for all of us. That being said, this film had me more stressed out than the pandemic itself. I’m not sure if I forgot what it was like to watch a thriller on the big screen, or if this film just nailed it that perfectly… But either way, this is a film you want to see in the theater and with Dolby surround sound. It’s a work of art that will leave you needing to hit the bar on the way out.

Simply put, there’s not a more perfect film for you to make your return to the theater for.

A Quiet Place Part II Review:

Grade: A