If the first A Quiet Place was a love letter to John Krazinski and Emily Blunt’s children, then A Quiet Place 2 was a love letter to the people they will become on their own when their parents are long gone. That alone is a tall order but something that I think this movie did well at, especially after the critical acclaim that came with the release of the first A Quiet Place.
Now, if you’re looking for complaints or me pointing out plot holes, you’ve come to the wrong place. All I have when it comes to A Quiet Place 2 is praise from here all the way till Sunday. Why? Because this movie understands that it’s a sequel. It’s not trying to beat the first one and be a little more showy. It stands on its own two feet and tells a story of survival where the next generation rises up and takes ownership of their future.
At the heart of it all is Regan, played by Millicient Simmonds. In the first A Quiet Place the story was a little more evenly spread out amongst the characters. This time around in A Quiet Place 2 it’s time for Millie to shine bright. She’s the heart of this story. She’s what keeps hope alive. And she’s proof that a part of Lee, her father, still lives within her no matter if he isn’t on this Earth anymore.
Personally, I think Regan spent so much time being contrary to her father in the first A Quiet Place that she wanted to make it up to him in the sequel by being the strength the family needed. That’s not to say that Evelyn or Marcus weren’t strong. They had their own moments where they proved they were survivors just like Regan. What I’m saying is that Regan took charge and did what had to be done for the good of everyone.
Marcus, played by Noah Jupe, also had time to shine when he wasn’t freaking out or being rational AF. Which, who wouldn’t freak out in a world where aliens of some sort have decimated the human population. I know I would. But back to that rational bit. He really stepped it up and matched his sisters energy in being the kind of leader that is needed if the human race is to survive these absolute terrors.
But just because the kids are taking charge doesn’t mean that the adults don’t have a role to play. John Krazinski’s Lee makes a cameo in the opening sequence of the movie, tugging at my heart strings. Emily Blunt’s Evelyn is a boss who will do whatever the hell she has to to get her kids to a place of safety. And Cillian Murphy’s Emmett is a shadow of a man who finds purpose when he helps out this family. Together they support Regan and Marcus in paving the way for the shape the world is going to take next without themselves fading away into the background, never to be seen again.
Ultimately, A Quiet Place 2 is the next step in this journey that is full of feels, family, and action while still remaining the tense thriller that we got to know and love in the first movie. And what you’re left with is a movie that once again asks you, “What would you do for those you love?” with a side of, “What would you do for a stranger who asks for your help at the end of the world?”
A Quiet Place 2 hits theaters May 28, 2021.
