"A Quiet Place Part II": Movie Review
While its successes don't quite reach the level of the prior installment, "A Quiet Place Part II" is just as thrilling. Its methodical approach to its ongoing story works splendidly and feeds into its larger tale. But this doesn't excuse its sporadically nonsensical editing and narrative inconsistencies that ultimately manufacture a greater sense of confusion. In totality, Cillian Murphy's gritty performance, a superb supporting cast, and some fantastic action sequences make it a worthwhile sequel.
A mother (Emily Blunt) and her three children set out to find other survivors while avoiding the vicious alien species that only hunt by sound.
Coming off the taught first installment, "A Quiet Place Part II" capitalizes on its slick subject and thoughtful character construction. There is more exposition this time around, fleshing out what was purposely ambiguous in the first film and elaborating on it with originality. Each character is equally layered and analyzed with such intriguing dialogue, it's very easy to lose sight of its more contrived moment-to-moment action. Being able to root for such likable individuals is also a testament to just how dedicated these performances are, including Murphy who excels alongside Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, and Millicent Simmonds. Their various reactions and human instincts all feel spot on and only increase the tension-filled drama. Each gruesome instance is painfully realistic, giving way to some moments that took my breath away.
Unfortunately, even though its high-intensity action exhilarates, there is an equal amount of head-scratching choices. The editing is not nearly as sharp, and it's evident throughout with circumstances so off-color the structure of the entire film becomes obscured. While the exposition remains helpful in identifying and defining the post-apocalyptic conditions, there are complete oversights in its execution that remain consistently disappointing.
"A Quiet Place Part II" emerges victorious in the end but struggles to maintain the quality demonstrated in the first film. The action, acting, and filming are often impressive and highlight those edge-of-your-seat instances. Director/ writer John Krasinski has mostly maintained his sharp ability to craft a successful sequel even though this second installment has taken a small step back.
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