Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.
When I first heard a sequel was going to be made of A Quiet Place, I was against it. There was no need! Why would they mess with perfection or something close to it? Why must Hollywood insist on sequelizing or looking for a new series to franchise? Okay, these questions are easily answered; Of course it’s for the almighty dollar…duh! I even heard John Krazinski was hesitant on making a sequel. So, what’s up with the change of heart…? It doesn’t matter. Because all doubts can now be quashed. This was a worthy sequel.
Instead of making a sequel for sequel’s sake, John Krazinski wrote an engaging story, this time without his co-writers, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, which never compromised the integrity of the first film. We were given a look at this family, who are dealing with loss, survival and the threats of these otherworldly creatures, and on top of all that, their fellow man. It’s a natural progression. There’s no sudden shift in the story where we find out the origin of these creatures. In fact, even though we see “Day 1”, we still don’t know the how or why they’re here. Which I’m thankful for the mystery.
There were strong performances, once again, by Emily Blunt, as well as Millicent Simmonds. The addition of Cillian Murphy doesn’t hurt either. A surprise to no one, he’s no slouch. Even though I like John Krazinski as an actor, I enjoy his directing slightly more. He’s got an eye for action, as well as, forgive me, the quieter moments. Without spoiling anything, there’s a part in the third act where three separate stories happen at the same time. And Krazinski handles them dutifully.
As I sat in my assigned seat to watch this film, I couldn’t help but shed a tear. No, not because I was sitting in a theater to see this. You see, I had already been back. What I mean is, I’m empathetic to what I see strangers go through on screen. That’s natural to me. Another insight into me is, I also have a tendency to laugh and/or get emotional when I see people use their God-given talents and express them. The artistry from writer, director and each of the performers displayed on screen, was done so well.
With the possibility of the theaters opening for wider audiences, I’m all for it. Since their reopening, I guess the newest promotion for directors’ films is to thank the audiences before screenings. A thank you for seeing their films IN the theaters claiming, “Theaters are back”! John made his announcement before ours. I hope he’s right. A Quiet Place Part II deserves to be seen in grand fashion, instead of at home. There’s just something about the theater experience. I look forward to seeing more on the big screen.
Arguing With Myself 