The Abbot family lives in a world where a simple sound can determine whether they live or are hunted down by extraterrestrial monsters with heightened hearing. When it comes to surviving in such a world, silence is key. While silence seems like such a simple concept, “A Quiet Place Part II” is able to take it to the next level and beyond.

The film starts off on “Day 1” when the monsters first arrived on Earth and then quickly shifts back to where the first film left off: the Abbott family survives their encounter with the aliens and welcomes their newborn child to the dystopian world. The family then decides it is finally time to venture off their farm, something they have not done for a little more than a year. 

It is not very common for a sequel film to be on par and possibly even a bit better than the first installment, especially in the horror genre, but “A Quiet Place Part II” is one of the rare films that is. While the two films are both very similar in many key aspects, it is the differences in style that help keep the sequel fresh and exciting.

One major difference is that characters are able to communicate verbally more throughout the sequel which helps to give more of an emotional element to the film. Background music is also featured more during the film which creates an extra level of suspense in an already silent theatre.

The storytelling is another highlight of “A Quiet Place Part II.” There are always constant jumps between the main characters as they all simultaneously face their own dangers, which helps to keep the film exciting and the audience engaged. The children of the Abbot family also both go through wonderfully designed character arcs that allow them to grow and overcome many hardships in such a cruel world.

The only thing that I found unlikable was the length of the film: with a short run time of 1 hour and 37 minutes, it would have been nice to see more of an extended opening sequence that went more in-depth about the aliens and how the world shaped itself after their arrival.

Overall, “A Quiet Place Part II” is a noteworthy and entertaining sequel that thrives in a dark and quiet theatre setting. John Krasinski has proven that not only is he a successful actor, but an outstanding director as well.