I don’t mean to be “blunt,” but there sure was a lot of talking in a movie that’s supposed to be quiet.
The plotline in THE LAST OF US videogame with Ellie and Joel surviving a post-apocalyptic world following a radio signal to safety could easily be mistaken for the same plot as A QUIET PLACE II. Sub Ellie for Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and Joel for a bearded Cillian Murphy, and this movie owes a lot to one of the greatest video games of all time. Gaming homages aside, the sequel to the perfect genre smash repeats the same themes as A QUIET PLACE but doesn’t leave audiences quite as breathless.
A feel for John Krasinski making a sequel to the beloved first film. He caught lightning in a bottle and attempts to recreate the same magic to mixed results. The main characters split up just like in the first film with a plotline playing it too “safe.”
Complaints aside, the sequel still deserves to be seen on the big screen. As the Abbotts continually get attacked by monsters, the audience should feel the same awe, fear, and dread.
The theme that kept repeating itself was “breathe.” From characters needing to breathe to calm down, prevent drowning, or running out of oxygen – catching one’s breath plays a significant role. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a take on COVID, but that fear couldn’t be more timely. This past year we all had to remember what it meant to take a breath while panicking, and each character (including the kids) in the film goes through similarly extreme moments.
The world in A QUIET PLACE II that John Krasinski and his team have created is mesmerizing. I cannot wait to re-watch this sequel. I’m hoping to go “Beyond the Sea” for part three.
It’s available in theaters.
