Director/writer John Krasinski follows up his horror hit A Quiet Place with Part II continuing his sure handed mastery of thrills and chills. It is a spare, basic premise that is executed flawlessly and is ideal summer fare.
A flashback shows the
beginning of the invasion
by horrific monsters attracted to sound as the Abbotts led by father (John
Krasinski) and mother (Emily Blunt) flee the chaos. Back to the present, the mother
and her children are forced to leave their home and meet a weary survivor
(Cillian Murphy). The Abbott’s deaf
daughter (Millicent Simmonds excels in an expanded role) displays smarts and
resourcefulness beyond her years as she tries to save her family, and when she bravely ventures out on a hunch,
it sets off a sequence of events that may prove deadly.
The film cleverly branches
into three narratives which triples the nonstop suspense as Krasinski maximizes
the angst in each scene. The
film wisely adds the opening sequence to show how the aliens appeared, and there
are eerie sights of abandoned cars on a bridge, shoes and pocketbooks at an
empty train station, and shredded rail cars. There are last minute heroics and rescues, but
there are also moments of emotion and loss. We care very much for these people which
heightens the fear factor, and what really enhances the film is that key
characters undergo a transformation with the story’s arc.
The film is edited for maximum impact and effectively uses sound and silence. It’s well-conceived and a more than worthy sequel that easily leaves open for a follow-up. The real life husband-wife team of Krasinski and Blunt are gold. See this in a theater.
****
of **** stars (for fans of Blunt and horror)
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