With a one-year delay, “A Quiet Place 2” was released in German cinemas in June 2021 and thus the sequel to the horror megahit of 2018. In my personal review I will tell you whether the long wait was worth it.
The following text reflects the personal opinion of an author and is therefore not representative of TV SPIELFILM.
It’s about silence and not making the smallest peep. But the noise of the box office ringing around the world could not be ignored: in 2018 the director laid John Krasinski presented a horror megahit out of nowhere with “A Quiet Place”, which grossed over 340 million US dollars and kept the audience in suspense with a simple but extremely effectively implemented premise. Nasty aliens have invaded the earth and are particularly sensitive to noise. The film played through the simple concept consistently and successfully.
The thriller ended with a loud bang, which was followed a little later by another: the announcement of “A Quiet Place 2”. Krasinski once again took his seat in the director’s chair, directing his wife and star actor Emily Blunt (“Sicario”), as well as their returning children Noah Jupe (“Miracle”) and Millicent Simmonds. This time there are reinforcements from Cillian Murphy (“Batman Begins”) and Djimon Hounsou (“Gladiator”).
Due to a massive corona-related postponement, “A Quiet Place 2” is only now appearing in cinemas with a one-year delay. A long time in which expectations are likely to have skyrocketed. But don’t worry: Friends of high-tension cinema and fans of the predecessor will both get their money’s worth.
A Quiet Place 2: high tension from the first minute
In “A Quiet Place 2” there is no hesitation, Krasinski unleashes the first intense thrills on the audience right in the opening sequence. But before the story of the first part continues, the reverse path is taken: In an extensive flashback, the first day of the alien invasion is described and shown how people react to it. Chaos and panic break out and Krasinski is already turning the tension screw powerfully and masterfullywith a longer, uncut shot of a school bus speeding toward the camera marking the first high point—that was actually turned that way and you actually know it from the trailer, but in the final film it still has its effect.
Then it goes back to the narrative present, where “A Quiet Place 2” begins only minutes after the end of the predecessor: Evelyn and her children have successfully repelled the alien attack, but their home is no longer safe and they have to flee. On their search for a new place to live, they meet the lone fighter Emmett – and a little later the prospect of a new beginning.
Bigger world after horror 101
Photo: Paramount
Of course, the new plot has to get going first, softly mumbled dialogues ensure a necessary breather between the well-dosed, but always exciting action interludes. Thanks to the formidable cast, led by Emily Blunt, the quiet moments don’t get boring. The world is expanded in a meaningful, but at the same time unsurprisingly manner – without common and well-known horror tropes like looters with a cult background or a seemingly utopian settlement with survivors, “A Quiet Place 2” doesn’t get along either.
Their introduction does not therefore cause additional excitement per se, but rather eye rolls. But that’s probably quite simply the shackles of the genre. Not much is gained from them (yet), but it is It is quite possible that Krasinski wanted to keep something up his sleeve for a possible third part.
Adrenaline thanks to a perfect cut
However, this does not have a very negative impact either, because at the latest when the aliens attack again, such thoughts are thrown out of your head in no time at all. Then cheering is announced and more than before. To do this, the script cleverly lays out various small storylines in order to then run them alongside in some great parallel montages. Everything is at stake everywhere and the simultaneous increase in dangerous situations does not ensure too much action, which is why it threatens to fizzle out. Instead, the voltage is increased to the limit. And that can only be achieved through perfect film editing, which is why editor Michael P. Shawver (“Black Panther”, “Creed: Rocky’s Laegacy”) has to be given special respect at this point.
Conclusion: As quickly as the work was announced and wrapped, one could have seriously expected a tired rehash for the quick bucks. Instead, with “A Quiet Place 2” John Krasinski a worthy, very exciting sequel presented that no friend of the first film or of horror material in general should miss.
