2018’s breakout film, A Quiet Place, followed the Abbott family living in a post apocalyptic world inhabited by aliens. A Quiet Place II picks up right where we last saw the Abbott family. Evelyn (Emily Blunt), Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe), and baby leave their sand path and head out into the world with a weapon that can save mankind.

The Abbott’s runs into their old friend Emmett (Cillian Murphy) who helps provide temporary shelter. After Regan believes she’s decoded a message, Emmet reluctantly helps her search for an island where she can boost her alien killing weapon – the audio feedback from her cochlear implant.

A Quiet Place II has plenty of similarities to the first film with a few wrinkles. The biggest difference is the plot devices that allow characters more dialogue. Second, the film shows what happened on Day 1 when the aliens arrived. It’s the perfect opening for this film. We finally get to see the nightmare alluded to in the first film as their quiet town erupts into chaos when aliens show up. Director John Krasinski does a masterful job showing the peaceful world the Abbott’s once lived in juxtaposed with the post apocalyptic nightmare they’re currently trapped in.

My favorite wrinkle is the flashbacks that show the first alien attacks. They’re incredibly entertaining with amazing jump scares, and show exactly what the aliens can/can’t do. There’s a lot more alien carnage this time around but Krasinski saved the best attack sequences and nail biting scenes for the third act.

A Quiet Place II is a simple story that’s masterfully directed. It’s packed with intense compact scenes, incredible monster action, and characters you care about.

It’s unclear where A Quiet Place goes after this film. Much like the first film, it could end here or there could easily be a third film. What is clear – A Quiet Place is one of the best original horror stories told in years. If the Abbott family’s journey stops here, it’s been a fun one. If it continues, it’ll be interesting to see where they go next.

Grade: A-