REVIEW: A QUIET PLACE PART II

 

4/5

A Quieter Place. 

97 Mins. Starring: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Scoot McNairy, Djimon Hounsou & John Krasinski. Director: John Krasinski. 

Day One. Opening with an outstanding one shot on the road that ruffles feathers, pulls the bird out the box (although Sarah Paulson's eyes owned that highway to hell) and even catching a bus looks like the 'Speed' sequel we all wish we had Sandra, 'A Quiet Place Part II' is anything but in cruise control. And whose that peaking over the blindfold? Thomas Shelby? This is '28 Days Later' era Cillian Murphy looking 28 years later. If you thought that this sequel would slump with John Krasinski "just" in the directors office chair think again. Not when Emily Blunt's got a f###### shotgun (Brad Pitt in 'Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood' voice). Keep quiet. No spoilers, but the cats already meowing out the bag when it should be purring. The John who is no longer "Jim from 'The Office'" is here in association with Michael Bay (you know his '13 Hours' helped this prime actor/director arm up and prep for Amazon's 'Jack Ryan' series) to give you another horror game changer that defies conventions like it does clichés of predictability as things get oh so quieter like Bjork. Blowing a fuse in classic cameo for not just a prelude to this movie but a prologue to the whole 'Quiet' saga that knocks it out the all the streets are quiet Sunday baseball park. It's great to see the fatherly hero return after so much time I even ended up asking, "who the hell is this other kid in the car?!" We wanted him back as much as we would love to see those Mr. and Mrs. Fantastic rumors for this power couple really become something to Marvel at for the comic-books original family. Could you even think of a more perfect pair in partnership as they understand here like Stephen King how real horror is all about humanity...and family? The ties that bind and bond here are terrific as Krasiniski has even shown up in theatres around the States to welcome people back to cinemas for a film that truly belongs on the big screen (may we suggest the surround sound of Dolby Atmos aside from IMAX for that truly "it's behind you" atmospheric experience). I almost expected him to pop up here in Japan. It's so good to be back we could scream or from the mountaintops. But we best keep out lips sealed as this keeps the blockbuster season cauldron drum flame lit.

'Tenet'. Christopher Nolan's born for the biggest screen time folding in on itself epic gave us a brief but fleeting and fitting return to the home of bubbling popcorn last year out of quarantine. But I haven't seen anything on the big-screen since then. In Japan they stay until the final credit has rolled like they were watching a Marvel movie which afforded me the time in reflection to savour one of my favourite entertainment experiences, back in the hot seat. It really has been a long time for a man who visited those red fold up seats more than most do barstools. Almost as long as it takes me to figure out if this movie that does more with a few words than a Clint Eastwood facial expression whether I've walked into the subtitled show or the Japanese dubbed version. Such is life over here. Did I go in the right one you ask? どう思いますか. So long a time I even forgot that you shouldn't really take popcorn into a movie like this one. Dare you crunch like gravel under you barefeet for something so tense as it descends the stairs with a 'Home Alone' nail in the foot dread. Krasinski who knows how to build Spielberg tension just like a raptor in the kitchen without throwing the sink, makes tense time seem to stand so still. Making this hour and a half movie feel like more...and that's actually a good thing here. You don't want this to end like those who feel a chill down their spine don't want to turn around. Don't breathe. Just take a walk with this one and it will take you back to a time when we didn't live in an apocalypse and we could move freely without having to cover our mouths. As this monster movie delayed more times than the lockdown being lifted also shows us humanity today in its monster form this post-COVID world were some have begun to lose their way and form divisions at a time were we should all be coming together even more. With nary a word, classic character actor Scoot McNairy almost unrecognisable with his ragged ravagers really reflects this in a classic cameo. But the biggest stars are the clawing alien species that tooth and nail look like something out of 'Stranger Things' for this spindly vision of our own demise for the end of the world. And with a blinking kaleidoscope of digital radio lights on air like a Hawkins laboratory, maybe this even exists in a same, shared universe. Friends don't lie, that would certainly turn this genre and Hollywood upside down. 

Beyond the sea, this movie uses Bobby Darin as effectively as they did Neil Young's 'Harvest Moon' for plug in baby one of the most moving and romantic headphone dances we've seen in movies that confirmed the first 'A Quiet Place' horror as a heartfelt classic. Or as well as most of the genre does using songs of simple pleasure and joy to juxtapose the most terrifying things crawling and creeping towards your safe place like under the bed. Better get behind more than the sofa this film is scary as s###. And you don't want anybody to hear you scream. They said be quiet. Krasinski is a force on and behind the camera, but to put it bluntly, 'Sicario' and 'Edge Of Tomorrow' star Emily Blunt is the real action hero with the blunderbuss doing what she must. But with moving mothering that would do anything for her young. Just like the cradle her newborn is kept in, away like a manager. Just like John did in the first film. She cedes the star moments to the next in line...her kin. Beckoning then to come on out. A coming of age and aggression over anxiety Noah Jupe and the magnificent Millicent Simmonds really take and hold their stage and Krasinski fatherly even knows how to shoot one of them with a gun without us seeing them pull the trigger in a positive message in these days of heightened gun crime corrupting our youth. The latter Simmonds is really sensational. Forming a 'Last Of Us' like bond with 'Peaky Blinders' and 'Dark Knight' trilogy Scarecrow Cillian Murphy who behind the mask, scene steals and gives us one of his best performances in years aside from the Birmingham gangster we just have to tip out blade lined flat caps for. Setting fire to a cigarette lighter in an incinerator, burning with profoundly hurt passion. The deaf actress Millicent overcoming it all to find a stirring performance in silence is even teaching me to be a better teacher as she tells Cillian to ENUNCIATE! This her moment birthed from the character of her power couple parents even amongst all the big names like veteran great Djimon Hounsou. The 'Gladiator', 'Blood Diamond' and 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' actor offering more depth and hope in his relief effort. Anyone who says "WHO" like the meme doesn't know a real actor when they see one. And this place is full of them showing how much they can do with evoking expression and a language that points to a sign that its not what we say...but what we do that matters. This one will take your breath away and leave you speechless. Hear this. What more can we say? Even if it did miss a trick like the 'Now You See Me' sequel not being called 'Now You Dont', not calling itself, 'A Quieter Place' (here's hoping for 'Knives In'). With the potential of a Part III for an epic trilogy conclusion finding it's way home and a co-sign from the ultimate horror movie director William Friedkin of 'The Exorcist' himself for this film that will turn heads. When it comes to hallmark horrors, this silence is golden. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'A Quiet Place', 'Bird Box', 'I Am Legend'.