‘A Quiet Place Part II’ 4K UHD Review

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 Victor Medina

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

THE SET-UP

The Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) are forced to leave their home, only to discover that the aliens hunting them are not the only threat. Also stars Cillian Murphy. Written and directed by John Krasinski.

THE DELIVERY

I often find modern sequels disappointing, so it was refreshing to see that A Quiet Place Part II is an entertaining second chapter that rewarded fans who waited an extra year for its release.

2018’s A Quiet Place was a surprise hit when it opened in theaters in April of 2018. With theater screens overrun with terrible sequels and reboots, A Quiet Place was uniquely original in concept and execution, with some stellar direction by John Krasinski. Alien invasion movies/creature features often devolve into clichés and tired tropes, but Krasinski gave the genre a fresh twist, an approach that, thankfully, still works the second time around.

The sequel manages to retain the tone and tension of the original, without feeling too repetitive. It also expands on the world only hinted at in the first film. After the Abbott family is forced to leave their farm after the creature attack, they venture out in search for help. They soon discover, however, that in their post-apocalyptic world, there are few friends or allies.

They encounter Emmett (Cillian Murphy), a friend from their past, who is now reluctant to help. The situation changes, however, when evidence of a sanctuary for survivors is discovered.

Part I was a visceral viewing experience, with the suspense and mystery surrounding the aliens driving a tale of survival. Part II is more of an emotional story with more character development, particularly with the Abbott children, played by Simmonds and Jupe. Both are excellent actors, and the addition of Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou gives the film a different dynamic and tone from the first film, which centered on Krasinski and Blunt’s performance.

*L-r, Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) brave the unknown in “A Quiet Place Part II.”*

The aliens are far more visible, and no longer the looming threat in the shadows. This time, the creatures attack in daylight, and appear far more often throughout the film. It’s the perfect escalation of conflict the sequel needed.

A Quiet Place Part II may be an unapologetic monster movie, but it also provides the emotional depth that allows the viewer to become invested in the story. It’s a sequel that stands alongside the original as an equal, a rare feat in Hollywood these days.

Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5

VIDEO AND AUDIO

According to a featurette in the special features section, the film was shot on both film stock and digitally. That would explain why some scenes feature noticeable grain, while others (particularly the marina scene) do not. I personally like the “cinematic” feel grain gives a film, and here, it is used to great effect to create a sense of grittiness, as the industrial world slowly decays and is taken over by nature.

The Dolby Vision transfer and HDR exhibits deep, rich greens and browns during the many outdoor scenes, and although the film grain is noticeable in the low-light scenes, the quality of the image is often excellent. I did find that Krasinski and cinematographer Polly Morgan often chose a soft focus, so detail, while good, isn’t quite reference-quality as you’ll find on some 4K transfers.

The Dolby Atmos audio mix, on the other hand, is absolutely superb. Unlike Part I, where silence dominated much of the film, Part II features several intense action scenes, with alien shrieks that rattled our speakers. The surround effect is often chilling, as you can hear the clicking and chittering of the aliens move from channel to channel as they move. It’s an auditory joyride for your senses.

Video Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Audio Rating: 5 out of 5

SPECIAL FEATURES

The bonus features are all included on the enclosed Blu-ray rather than the 4K disc, which is a bit annoying, as it is possible to fit them on both discs. All bonus features are presented in high definition.

The bonus features are as follows.

‘Director’s Diary: Filming with John Krasinski’ featurette. Krasinski discusses his approach to the sequel in a series of interviews taken on location during the shoot. Running Time: 9:38

‘Rolling Back the Curtain’ featurette. Krasinski and members of the cast and crew discuss the aliens’ role in the story. Running Time: 3:47

‘Regan’s Journey’ featurette. Part II is very much the story of Regan (Millicent Simmonds), who is determined to carry on the mission of her father to not just survive, but find a sense of normal again. In this featurette, Simmonds delves into her character’s motivations in the film; her interviews are conducted in sign language, so an interpreter voices her thoughts. Running Time: 6:19

‘Surviving the Marina’ featurette. The marina scene, one of the best action set pieces in the film, is covered here. Krasinski and the crew talk about the challenges of working in an active marina in the middle of the summer, as well as how the scene exposes a key weakness in the aliens. Running Time: 5:00

‘Detectable Disturbance: Visual Effects and Sound Design’ featurette. The visual and sound effects are highlighted in this featurette. The creature design of the aliens is explored, and members of the Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) team explain how they brought them to life. The superb sound design crew is featured as well. Running Time: 8:26

Digital Copy. A code for a digital copy of the film, redeemable at services including VUDU and iTunes, is included. Paramount film codes are not redeemable through Disney’s Movies Anywhere service. That doesn’t bother us personally, as we find VUDU to be the superior service. We suggest confirming that your preferred service will redeem the code in 4K before using it.

Special Features Rating: 4 out of 5

THE BOTTOM LINE: ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ is an entertaining sequel that was worth the wait

A Quiet Place Part II may not match the visceral experience of the first film, but it excels in its character development. The emotional stakes are raised, and director John Krasinski has once again delivered a taut, riveting thriller. The 4K transfer is quite good, and the Dolby Atmos mix is exceptional.