Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

Written and Directed by John Krasinski
Characters created by Bryan Woods, Scott Beck
Starring Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, John Krasinski

A Quiet Place was a well deserved hit when it was released in 2018. The magic of seeing real life couple Krasinski and Blunt as Lee and Evelyn Abbott, keeping their family alive versus digital alien invaders is great at setting the mood and making one respect the power of silence. The best thing about that first film, however, is the best thing about the second film: Millicent Simmonds.

After a prelude that gives the viewer a glimpse of Day 1, we get one important meeting with a friend of Lee and Evelyn’s named Emmett (Murphy). He’s with them long enough to learn an important word from Simmons’ Regan, and then all hell breaks loose. Forward to minutes after the first film. Their home destroyed, Evelyn takes the kids and heads back into town along the tracks. When she gets there, she finds Emmett, but none of his family is with him.

From here the story moves back to the developments from the last act of part 1. Regan hatches an idea and decides to move forward with her plan: alone. This forces Emmett to go after her. What develops is wonderful in Krasinski’s continual gift with getting the most out of Simmonds immends acting talent.

Blunt and Jupe are as good as ever. Murphy does a good job growing into his role as once and future guardian. The baby looks more than a couple days old, but then, we know why that has to be. It’s disappointing to only see Hounsou for the last act in what feels like a cameo.

As with the first film, the cinematography is excellent. This time around, the need for quiet is not as big of a feature. It’s still needed, it’s just got too much movement going on to be as effective. Recent experience with Darius Marders’ powerful Sound of Metal, fairly or not, made what they try with this more quaint.

The last act feels rushed. In the end, disappointment strikes when it comes across as more of a build up for a sequel than an actual conclusion. Invariably, the more time we spend seeing the monsters, the more they look like computer animation. Overall, though, it can’t be too disappointing when one knows they’re going to see Simmonds in her natural element.

(***1/2 out of ****)