Horror sequels have a hit or miss quality; fans either receive them with an open mind or heavily criticize them for failing to meet the glory of their predecessors. Nevertheless, some horror sequels defy all expectations by being not just extremely well-produced, but overall the better entry in a franchise. 2018’s A Quiet Place gives a refreshing take on the horror genre, presenting a story that relies on minimal gore or kills to truly haunt audiences. It set the bar high for any potential sequels. Nevertheless, A Quiet Place Part II manages to deliver an equally entertaining and gaging horror story. Here is why A Quiet Place Part II is the superior sequel.
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Opening-Day One
Paramount Pictures
A Quiet Place opens on a dystopian world where the Abbott family is trying to survive as best they can, only to suddenly witness its youngest member destroyed by the sightless aliens bent on eliminating all human life. It’s a shocking scene, featuring the death of a child and his parents’ inability to save him: heartbreaking, effective, and reels audiences in five minutes into the film. It’s hard to imagine anything could follow such a strong opening, but A Quiet Place Part II manages to defy expectations with its own opening. Audiences get an insight into day one, of the alien invasion and humanity’s everyday life changed in the blink of an eye. From the anxiety, fear, and fight-or-flight responses seen by everyone in the scene, A Quiet Place Part II opens strong, letting audiences know that its predecessor was only the beginning of the horror about to unfold.
Dystopia Explored
While most of the action in A Quiet Place takes place surrounding the Abbott’s remote home, this sequel finally shows audiences the impact the sightless aliens have inflicted on the entire world. From destroyed communities, desolate hideouts, to underground shelters, dystopia is all that remains of the planet. More chilling is the effects it has had on humanity; Emmett was once a close friend of the Abbott family, only to have deserted them in their time of need and transformed into a paranoid and emotionless hermit, almost shooting down Marcus when he sees the Abbott family approaching his hideout. This translates to other remaining survivors, notably the bandits that stop Emmett and Regan during their journey towards the radio tower. Though their exact plan is never realized, it can only be assumed that Emmett and Regan were about to meet their untimely fates at the hands of these individuals had it not been for Emmett’s quick-thinking and Regan’s survival skills. A Quiet Place Part II reflects the depravity humans are capable of when pushed into life and death stakes.
Higher Stakes
The stakes are greater all-around in A Quiet Place Part II. From the family being sprung into action immediately after Lee’s death, Marcus getting severely injured due to Emmett’s bear trap, to finally, Regan and Emmett embarking on a perilous journey to the radio tower to weaponize Regan’s hearing aid–these characters have no time to lose in their respective plights. Additionally, the Abbott family finds itself in significantly graver situations. Marcus’s injury is a potential for serious illness; Regan is without her family for the first time ever, and Evelyn has to fend for her family without Lee. Every character is fighting against seemingly insurmountable odds to survive.
Evelyn’s Character Arc
Emily Blunt delivers a thoroughly nuanced performance as Evelyn Abbott in A Quiet Place, dealing with the aftermath of her youngest son’s death while trying to maintain his remaining family safe and sound. While Lee takes the lead during most of the family’s encounters with the sightless aliens, Evelyn proves herself more than capable when she gives birth on her own and manages to fend off the sightless aliens long enough for Lee to rescue her. In A Quiet Place Part II, audiences get a look at Evelyn as a widow who must shift gears to protect her family. The stakes are higher for Evelyn all-around; she is tending to a newborn; she is tending to her injured son, and she is eventually forced to go out into the dystopian world to get medical supplies for Marcus. Evelyn is no longer just a mother; she is the sole provider for her family.
Separation
One of the cardinal rules of the horror genre is to never split up, it’s a no-brainer. That noted, A Quiet Place Part II manages to dabble with this rule without losing its credibility. The Abbott family works its best intact; nevertheless, each family member manages to hold their own when separated due to circumstances. Regan takes the initiative to go out to find other survivors; Evelyn goes out for medical supplies to aid Marcus; and Marcus has to face the sightless aliens single-handedly in order to protect his baby brother. The Abbott family is put into situations where they must prove their character growth through survival, and they succeed without question.
Interestingly, the movie ends with the Abbott family apart; Regan stands victorious alongside Emmett as they manage to broadcast her hearing aid signal, stopping the sightless aliens in their tracks, while Evelyn, Marcus, and the newest member of Abbott family narrowly escape their own encounter with the sightless aliens. The Abbott family proves that even apart, they can put their learned skills to good use for the sake of mankind. While A Quiet Place introduced audiences to the Abbott family, A Quiet Place Part II develops each of its members as the inarguable heroes in their dystopian world.
