After having to endure a year of quarantine, moviegoers were undoubtedly eager to normalcy by getting back into a theater and watching a movie. Of course, any movie would do, but none could have been a better experience than “A Quiet Place Part II.” The thrilling sequel that embraces the golden rule of staying silent during a film was originally supposed to make a come back last year, but was postponed due to the pandemic. While the decision to hold its release back and keep it theatrical was purely business, it worked out in the end because the sequel was not only a reminder of what makes films great, but it was also an extension of one of the best thrillers. And now that comes to us for the home theater release.
Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path. Blunt returns as the Abbott family matriarch who now bares the responsibility of protecting her family, including her son Marcus (Noah Jupe) and her deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), after the death of Lee (John Krasinski).
Their journey beyond the sand path is treacherous but it does lead them to Emmett (Cillian Murphy), a friend of Lee’s who is now a hardened, reclusive survivor whose wife and children were killed by the aliens. They are also introduced to Man on the Island (Djimon Hounsou), the leader of a small island colony of survivors.
While the first film was about the pure act of survival, “A Quiet Place Part II” centers on the Abbott family taking matters into their own hands and doing what they can weaponize the high-frequency audio feedback from Regan’s hearing aids and incapacitate the aliens.
Overall, “A Quiet Place Part II” expanded the world by having the Abbott family step out of their own. For so long they only knew what existed within the sand path, not actually knowing that there were other human survivors out there. So the sequel spends some time establishing that there are other survivors and the emotional fallout of what happens when some live in isolation for so long. So it is not only a terrifying horror as these sound-based creatures hunt their human pretty, but it is a psychological one as well as it tests the emotional stamina of its characters.
As for the technical aspects of “A Quiet Place Part II,” fans will be immersed in the same sensory visceral experience as the first film. That’s because the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Discs also boast a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead, which makes all of the scares and thrills that much more poignant.
And the 4K Ultra HD disc features Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR), which delivers greater brightness and contrast, as well as a fuller palette of rich colors.
But perhaps the weakest part of all of this is that “A Quiet Place Part II” 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray and Digital doesn’t contain any bonuses with depth. The Director’s Diary, which follows Krasinski on the set of the new film as he details the cast and crew’s incredible work, feels more like b-roll from EPK. While there’s another that explores Regan’s two-film character arc, the bonus feels lackluster. And the rest are just more EPK material but with more auditory and visual gusto to cover-up how generic it really is. All that being said, it’s the exciting continuation of a very compelling story in the horror thriller genre that makes the 4K all the more worthwhile.
Written and directed by John Krasinski, “A Quiet Place Part II” is available in all formats including digital, Blu-ray, and 4K in retail stores, today.
