Quiet - Too Quiet

 Since we liked the original well enough, we figured we'd give A Quiet Place Part II (2021) a shot.

It starts in flashback. John Krasinski (also directing) shows up a little late to his son's softball game. His neighbor, Cillian Murphy, who's there with his son, gives him a bit of a ribbing. Then the meteor hits and the monsters show up.

Now we're back in the present. Krasinski is dead. His son Noah Jupe, his deaf daughter, Millicent Simmonds, his wife Emily Blunt, and he newborn baby are trying to survive in the old same place. But things are getting too hard, so they set off to the nearest neighbor, whose lights they have seen at night when they light their signal fire.

It turns out to be a derelict foundry - but before they get there, they walk into a trap. Jupe steps on a bear trap, and his screams brings a monster. (Remember, they are basically blind and only respond to sound.) But Simmonds has a hearing aid that emits a high-pitched sound that drives them crazy, and they defeat the monster. 

It turns out that Cillian Murphy is their neighbor. His wife and son have been killed, and he's bitter, He refuses to help them or let them stay, although he does let them hide in the air-tight furnace when the monsters come. 

Through an unlikely set of clues. Simmonds figures out that there is a working radio transmitter on an island near the shore. If she can get there, she can broadcast her hearing aid signal, and anyone with a radio can repel the monsters. Although the adults forbid it, she sneaks off - and almost gets killed, but Murphy had followed her.

From here on, we get parallel stories: Simmonds and Murphy going to the island and Blunt, Jupe, and baby trying to survive in the foundry. It turns out that the island has a small, thriving community, because the monsters can't swim. It's actually quite bougie, even with Djimon Hansou running things. It doesn't last.

I kind of liked the parallel story lines, although I think the trick might have hidden some weaknesses in each one. But they were both full of exciting action and suspense. It's a change from the meditative silence and mindful walking in the early part. Murphy made an interesting addition to the cast - he plays a kind of stringy, rangy good ol' boy, maybe with a touch of survivalist. You can see the family sizing him up for a father-figure, or at least a compatriot, and he doesn't want any part of it. Every man for himself. But of course, he reforms. 

Blunt is a natural at steely determination, and Jupe is a timid, somewhat shell-shocked kid who is nonetheless doing his best. It's Simmonds who probably plays the best character: idealistic and strong, determined to save the world. I don't suppose there will be a sequel to show this, though. I think they are going prequel.