A Quiet Place Part II

Almost as simple and straightforward, but with more substantial and over-the-top moments, which the first film mostly lacked or was in a slightly different, more intimate spirit. Some things are interestingly portrayed (the island, the harbour outcasts), but it woefully lacks any explanation of "where, how, why". We also don’t get to know anything about the monsters, it’s again a survival flick with family values, but wonderfully shot, with some sensational camera work without editing, which pulls it upwards. (07/07/2021)

This movie is a very solid sequel which while is mostly just a variation on the theme established by the first installment, it is still very engaging and does not really have dull moments. Cillian Murphy was an excellently chosen addition to the cast. In the end, however, I do have to admit that I was shaking my head in disbelief at some of the behavior of the characters in this movie, even though I could accept their somewhat questionable decisions in the first installment. (27/07/2021)

A datadisc to a good video game. We already know the engine, we know the rules, we know the controls. New missions, new playable characters, new enemies and environments have been added. We don't need to hire a professional for the story, it's all about incorporating the new elements seamlessly. Totally fine. _____ I realized how long it's been since I've seen such cool work with framing, sound, camera movement, and point of view changes in newer genre films, and that's just for the purpose of the spectacle. (07/09/2021)

Back in the cinema after a year for a film that was postponed for a year, and enjoyed it to the max. A Quiet Place 2 is a worthy sequel, it's bigger, more action-packed, more intense, and grungier. From the opening minutes, I gave myself over to Krasinski completely and enjoyed the 90 minute ride that ripped my balls off in the final half hour so much that I even considered leaving them in the theater! The women there will probably forget their knickers. The opening with the outset of the apocalypse is very intense, uncomfortable and properly chaotic, just the way I like it. Then the film immediately picks up from the first one and continues with the story. The middle of the film is a little quieter, but thanks to the great actors (Emily Blunt is my sweetheart and Cillian Murphy is awesome) it's a great watch. Technically perfect, the sound design is awesome – the transition from complete silence to extreme loudness is well done, and there were at least 5 where I was genuinely scared, jumped and screamed obscenities across the cinema! The monsters rampage on the set more often and they still command respect (for me the best cinema monster since Alien). The tension practically doesn't let up, at times I forgot to breathe, the soundtrack is great and I was afraid that there would be a missing scene like the birth from the first film, but there was the bear trap! The finale is quite similar to the first one and so a threequel is absolutely inevitable, and I already feel like this is the beginning of one of the best horror trilogies in years. A slight downside is the lack of gore scenes, it does get grittier at times, but I would have definitely welcomed some juicy R-rate action. Some may be bothered that there aren't many innovative elements compared to the first one, but monster horror films are few and far between. I enjoyed this one and as a first time cinema goer this year I'll gladly oblige. Those who were enthusiastic about first film will be enthusiastic now, those who weren't blown away by A Quiet Place won't be now. Story- ***, Visuals- *****, Action-****. Suspense- *****, Gore-**, Humor- no, Actors- ****, Atmosphere- *****. 8.5/10. (08/06/2021)

It is an unavoidable fact that A Quiet Place Part II cannot step into the same river as its phenomenal predecessor. The filmmakers are very well aware of this and thus don’t even try. In terms of plot, the sequel proceeds from what the first film established and then builds on it. The first one worked brilliantly with limited space, inventively imagined the world and its laws and, mainly, worked with sound as a means of expression, drama, storytelling and dramaturgy. Though it still adheres to the basic concept of the series, Part II uses sound to build tension within individual scenes, but the role of the central formalistic medium from which the film’s dramaturgy and narrative are derived is taken over by editing. Throughout the second half of the film, Krasinski maintains the suspense almost exclusively through parallel montages, but he also uses editing to gradually open up the post-apocalyptic world. The editing and, in a broader sense, the composition of the film and what it shows the audience, what it leaves out and what it leaves to the imagination, shows Krasinski to be not only a filmmaker with exquisite command of his craft, but also a creator capable of thinking in cinematic form. This ability elevates his films above the classic genre standard and places them alongside the best horror movies of the new millennium. Most other prominent genre filmmakers, such as Ari Aster, Robert Eggers and Jordan Peele, base their distinctiveness on visual stylisation and the strength of the screenplay. With Krasinski, we see a unique symbiosis of original high concept and the use of essential filmmaking techniques to achieve the maximum effect. Krasinski’s method of ratcheting up the tension reaches its full potential only in the cinema – with surround sound, a big screen and ambient darkness in which 130 people hold their breath all at once – and the sequel also proves to be an exceptionally effective machine for physically intense sensations (though it lacks the wow effect and spatial and conceptual density of the first film). This makes one even more aware of how modestly the filmmakers actually work with scares and, conversely, rely primarily on carefully prepared and escalating situations derived from well-thought-out Hitchcockian construction of the narrative and set design. Though I am generally not a fan of sequels, because they rarely offer anything original, in the case of the A Quiet Place series, I actually hope that a third instalment will be made. I want to see how Krasinski will pick up the gauntlet that he himself has thrown down and what cinematic means of expression he will choose as his weapon of choice. (12/06/2021)