Quiet Place Part II, A

Stars: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, Scoot McNairy, Wayne Duvall, John Krasinski

Director: John Krasinski

The second part of what is now to be a trilogy about the efforts of the Abbott family to evade alien invaders that hunt by sound. Of course the freshness of the original is now lacking, but this is still a tense and scary thriller in its own right, if more overtly violent than its predecessor. Cleverly constructed too, with Emily Blunt back on top form after one or two recent blips.

Jump scares and non-stop intense action, expertly marshalled by writer-director Krasinski, are the order of the day, as Evelyn and her kids (and baby) move outdoors, and the spotlight switches more to the teenagers, with Simmons and Jupe both first-rate as Regan and Marcus. Murphy's good as usual, too, although his character seems a bit tacked on to provide a male lead. And the family's decision-making is at times dubious to say the least.

Predictably, the creatures are susceptible to sound (we also find out that they can't swim), so the story develops into a kind of road movie, as the Abbotts, or principally the daughter, try to reach a radio station and broadcast sounds that will hopefully discombobulate the alien creatures, who we see much more of this time.

You know when the soundtrack goes silent that there's a scare any moment, but they're so well done the odds are that you'll still jump anyway. Part III's coming up in a couple of years time.

In cinemas from 4 June

David Quinlan

USA 2021. UK Distributor: Paramount. Colour by FotoKem.
97 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 2, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 02 Jun 2021