A wonderful set for such a thrilling film. Grab this collectible SteelBook edition to enjoy the fantastic continuation of the story!
“Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path in this “gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller” written and directed by John Krasinski.”
A Quiet Place II has a unique distinction of acting as both a partial prequel and a sequel. The opening of the film begins on Day 1, introducing us again to Lee Abbott (Krasinski) and the rest of his family before the arrival of the sound-seeking creatures. With the first film focusing solely on the Abbott family, this is the perfect way to introduce a character familiar to the family, give Krasinski some screen-time, as well as give audiences a little bit more information on what happened. After this thrilling opening sequence, we pick up almost instantly where the first film left off and the aftermath of the creature attack. The Abbott family decides to brave the unknown and leave the confines of their seclusion, seeking a new place to call home.
A Quiet Place Part II follows much of the same structure as the first film, it’s just a little bigger this time. Where the primary threat from the first is only up to three of these creatures, this one opens the world up more, and while it’s hard to tell exactly how many of these things there are out there, the small perspective of a family that’s been living in isolation is still just as interesting as it was. Even though we’ve been given a little more information and finally meet other people besides the Abbott family, the audience is still just as in the dark as they are. It was, and still is a bold choice to give so little information about a threat and not really expand on it in two films. For me at least, it leaves me wanting to learn so much more about the creature’s intentions, as they don’t seem to eat their prey, or have any motive whatsoever besides destroying all forms of noise. If there is a third film, it should be about time to expand on the why.
The absence of John Krasinski in the film after the opening sequence is definitely there. Cillian Murphy makes for a good stand-in, a broken man who has lost everything and not ready to trust anyone but himself. His journey with Regan is definitely the most interesting part about the film, the dangers they face, not just from the monsters, as well as the growth of both of their characters. Regan taking charge in a leadership role like her father would, despite the major disadvantage of her disability in a world where sound is so important, and Murphy’s character Emmett, learning to trust again and find some kind of hope in a world that has taken everything from him. While this is a very strong portion of the story, Emily Blunt and Noah Jupe’s characters are relegated to repeating almost exactly the same performances in the first film. There is a nice mother/son bond that continues to strengthen, as well as showing the growth of Jupe’s character Marcus in facing his fears, but it definitely repeats a lot of the same beats from the first. As much as I enjoyed Part II, it walks a very thin line that borders on the repetitive, and moving forward with more of the same just won’t work. There are sequences that stand out, such as the opening, and the boat dock, but again these are portions of the story that either take the silent thing to an entirely new level, or show us things we haven’t seen before.
Krasinski and Blunt’s reluctance to be involved in a sequel initially doesn’t give me high hopes that there will be a part three, and if there is, most likely won’t be following The Abbott family. Whatever the direction the series decides to go, staying faithful to the simplistic and not go overboard with pure exhibition is vital to the spirit of the films and what made them stand out so much.
Video
A Quiet Place Part II is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High-Definition Widescreen 2.39:1 featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10. This film looks absolutely stunning in 4k with Dolby Vision, with the dynamic meta-data ensuring that each sequence is calibrated perfectly. From what I remember, the film is a lot brighter than its predecessor, with a lot more daylight sequences. The brilliant brights and vivid colors are especially accentuated in these sequences, and are very detailed and free from any noticeable defects. The darker sequences look great as well, with the deep darks able to add to the tension in the scenes, with everything still able to be seen clearly. Given the choice between this set and Blu-ray, this is the clear winner.
Audio
The film is presented in Dolby Atmos. What do you say about the audio track in a film that is predominantly silent? When it does decide to show off the capabilities of the track, you won’t be disappointed. One thing I will say is that it can be hard to hear some of the whispered dialogue at times that isn’t subtitled, and you may find yourself battling with the volume turning it up then back down during some really crazy moments. But if you’re like me, who loves to have their entire walls shake until the nails come loose, it’s a perfect balance. The screeching cries of the monsters will echo throughout the room as it tears through everything to silence the noise, ensuring the surrounds get a full workout.
Special Features
The 4k set comes in several versions, including a sleek and beautifully designed SteelBook, which any collector would want. Mondo released an exquisite SteelBook for the first film, and here’s hoping they’ll put out another one for this set as well, but in the meantime, this is a very nice release.
The extras are located on the Blu-ray copy of the film, which is included in this set, as well as a Digital Copy. These extras include:
- Exclusive Director Diaries with John Krasinski
- Pulling Back the Curtain
- Regan’s Journey
- Surviving the Marina
- Detectable Disturbance: Visual Effects and Sound Design
A Quiet Place Part II delivers a solid continuation of such an incredible story. While new releases are scarce, this 4k SteelBook set is a gem that everyone should enjoy. Pick this one up today.
