Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Make some noise for frightening follow-up
On and off screen talents shine again
It’s finally time to venture out for the odd trip to the cinema again – and what better way to kick things off than with the sequel to one of the best horror movies of the past decade?
A Quiet Place Part II picks up from the tantalising climax of its predecessor as we see how Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and her kids Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and Marcus (Noah Jupe) cope with their devastating loss – and a newborn baby – in a world where every sound made puts your life in jeopardy.
Returning behind the camera, and briefly on screen, John Krasinski utilises the best elements of the original and expands his uneasy universe by putting his characters out on the road.
We also get to see how the terrifying creatures arrived in their world during a nerve-shredding opening that’s every bit as arresting as the first film’s introduction.
It’s a tribute to Krasinski and coscripters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ writing abilities that even two movies in, the silence is golden mantra doesn’t feel like a gimmick; they come up with ingenious ways to test the cast’s every breath and infuse most scenes with an overwhelming sense of dread.
Blunt is once again superb and this time has to fight for survival minus her soulmate, while Jupe’s acting shows real progression.
But this sequel’s MVP is Simmonds. There’s a moment when the 18-year-old becomes the film’s driving force – and it’s a challenge she is more than capable of meeting head-on.
Cast newbies include Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou and the mistrust of their motivations is very reminiscent of several plot arcs seen in The Walking Dead.
While Krasinski does open things up more – and gives the unsettling antagonists greater attacking threat during additional set-pieces – he resists the temptation to overburden his flick by keeping it to a tight 97 minutes.
However, separating his core cast for spells and lingering a bit too long on certain conversations does mean A Quiet Place Part II falls ever so slightly short of its predecessor.
●What are your thoughts on A Quiet Place Part II? How does it measure up to the original?
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@ reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.
Glorious geese took to the skies above Caldercruix.
from Airdrie, took snaps of the majestic animals at Hillend Loch as they came home for the summer.
Stephen said: “Its was stunning to see the geese fly across the reservoir so early in the morning. It made getting up so early well worth it as the sunrise perfectly showed the geese in all of their glory.”
Email your photos, along with your name, where you are from and details about the images’ content, to ian. bunting@reachplc.com.