'A Quiet Place Part II' review: Scares run high in worthy sequel

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Tackling grief through the prism of a horror movie may not be a novel idea but the new sequel “A Quiet Place Part II” continues to put a fresh spin on the tired concept. In the original film, the world has been attacked by alien invaders who feed on noise and conflict. It opens on day 89 of the devastation and only shows the aftermath of what has gone on before, making our small-town protagonists literally question every move and sound they make.

These unlikely survivors are the Abbott clan, anchored by headstrong dad Lee (John Krasinski, who also directed). He didn’t survive the first film but “A Quiet Place Part II” brings him back in a flashy prologue that expands on the first day of the alien attack. Some questions are answered but enough is also left open for future chapters before things immediately cut back to the events that concluded the first film.

Now that “A Quiet Place Part II” has brought its audience up to speed, it also forces its central characters out of their comfort zone. Following the finale of the first film, widowed matriarch Evelyn (Emily Blunt) has just given birth and must flee the scorched family farm along with her other two adolescent children. It doesn’t take long for the Abbotts to find trouble but a rescue comes in the form of family friend Emmett (Cillian Murphy), who’s been hiding out in an abandoned steel mill and reluctantly takes them in.

Up to now, the film has progressed in a linear fashion with clear-cut goals, stay together and survive. But soon those simple rules change and become survive by splitting up and achieving dangerous tasks that could get everyone killed. Evelyn needs life-saving supplies from the town pharmacy so she ventures out as quietly as possible. Defiant daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) is convinced there is salvation beyond their borders and sneaks out to find it, leaving a conflicted Emmett to join her on a questionable journey.

“A Quiet Place Part II” may not be as strong as the first entry but it effectively picks up the narrative from its predecessor and expands in new and intriguing ways. John Krasinski returns to direct and solely write this sequel (he only co-wrote the original) and his confidence behind the camera keeps building with each new set piece. He also worked with “A Quiet Place’s” producer Michael Bay on 2016’s “13 Hours” so it would make sense that the latter’s flair for directing action rubbed off on Krasinski while shooting.

The tense editing by Michael P. Shaever also helps to hide some of “A Quiet Place Part II’s” biggest flaws, most notably, why are the Abbotts the only ones walking around barefoot when everyone else is wearing shoes in a world where silence is golden? The first third of the film prominently shows off enough close-ups of bare feet to make you question if Quentin Tarantino secretly directed this instead. And much like the original “Quiet Place,” this sequel also abruptly ends where a normal movie would just be starting its grand finale. This tease will surprise some but feels earned, paving the way for another sequel which will likely end this original trilogy.

Rating: B

“A Quiet Place Part II” is now playing in theaters nationwide.