After a long COVID delay, John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place Part II has finally landed in theatres, carrying forward the impressive spooks of the original horror hit. In the wake of Jim’s death, Emily Blunt confidently takes the lead, fleeing from killer librarians who just want some goddamn peace and quiet.
John Krasinki’s confidence is clear from the opening scene of this film, as he nails a sense of dread and trepidation akin to Jaws or It. This demands a theatre viewing, as watching the reaction of an audience is almost as fun as watching the film itself. Like any other horror, there’s certainly some jumping in seats and little squeals, but there’s a quick hushing after any loud noises. This shows the high level of immersion that John Kransinki elicits with his directing; the audience is petrified that those hard-hitting monsters will come after them next.
While the thematic exploration falls a little short of its full potential, and the world-building is a little clunky, there’s a lot to love in this sequel. Some of the early choices from the writers, like catching a young boy in a bear trap, mean that the story constantly feels dangerous and unpredictable. The tension is at its highest in the smallest moments, with clever use of camera movement and props pulling the audience to their edge of the seats. Never has an ill-placed coffee cup been so terrifying.