A Quiet Place Part II Parent Guide

Lots of directors claim they never intended to make a sequel after a title goes big, but I do believe director John Krasinski’s claim he didn’t intend to continue A Quiet Place. The first installment of what is now a horror franchise was delicately directed (a word not usually used to describe this type of flick) and original (another hard-to-obtain adjective in one of the most crowded genres). The film had a satisfying conclusion and didn’t stress over explaining the sci-fi element. Yet so many of us had questions about how the earth was infested with uber-aggressive and hyper-hearing aliens and what would happen to the Abbot family after the credits rolled.

A Quiet Place Part II fills in some of those holes and although the “gimmick” continues, Krasinski pulls off the story extension with just as much thrill as the first. After a still vague explanation of the aliens’ arrival, we jump ahead 474 days to the moment when Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) and her three remaining children leave their busted-up farmhouse in search of help. And, as in the first movie, teenaged Regan (Millicent Simmonds) has her own ideas of how they should find a new path forward.

Stepping into the unknown, this new adventure leads the Abbotts to Emmett (Cillian Murphy), a friend from their former community who no longer holds the same affection for the struggling family that he did in the pre-monster era. Ultimately the group is split up and Mom is torn between rescuing Regan or caring for younger Marcus (Noah Jupe) and her newborn infant.

Despite the somewhat bloody violence (which feels a little less explicit than it did in the predecessor), many jump scenes and continual foot-on-the-gas tension, this script still delivers a solid experience for older audiences. Surprisingly, both these screenplays rank high for demonstrating family unity and the power of unconditional love.

At the center of these positive traits is the deaf character Regan, who is masterfully played by Simmons, an amazing actress who lost her own hearing shortly after birth. Regan is a profoundly positive example of a young woman who respects and loves her parents. The story also shows how hearing loss, which some may consider a handicap, is instead a valuable strength.

Obviously if horror is not your thing, then no amount of family love will make this an enjoyable experience. I don’t jump easily in movies, but this one caught me off guard a few times. Yet if you’re looking for a scare-fest that isn’t overboard with gore, includes hardly any profanity and no sexual content, then this is another rare find that older kids and adults can scream through together.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.