Family Resemblance in A Quiet Place Part II
The following contains spoilers for both A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II.
If you haven't been to a movie theater in some time and feel comfortable doing so, John Krasinski's A Quiet Place Part II would be the perfect opportunity to return. The worthy sequel to 2018's surprise sci-fi hit features another impressive sound design with assured camerawork and acting to boot.
The film opens with an impressive prologue no doubt an homage to the king of opening scenes himself, Steven Spielberg (complete with plenty of examples of the signature "Spielberg face"). The prologue takes place before the events of the film's predecessor, serving to (re)orient the viewers to the world with our family and the rules of the alien/predator race hunting down any human through sound detection. It's an incredible set-piece that does some narrative heavy-lifting worthy of something like War of the Worlds (2005). The film then returns to the moments immediately following the cliffhanger of the first film as our characters Evelyn, Regan, and Marcus (performed by Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe) attempt to navigate to a safe haven with the help of a broken old friend, Emmett (Cillian Murphy). The first film centered on Lee (John Krasinski) and Evelyn as they attempt to protect their three children and newborn infant from a seemingly unstoppable force of predatory aliens.
Krasinski has noted in the past that A Quiet Place is about parenthood and is a love letter to his own children. This is only reinforced with the decision to cast his wife, Emily Blunt, as the protective and fierce mother. The first film is about the sacrificial death of a resourceful and well-meaning father, as well as the strength of the daughter Regan, ironically coming through her own deafness. A good companion with recent Academy Award-winner Sound of Metal, 2018's A Quiet Place is not only a meditation of sacrificial death and the love of parents but also strength through "weakness." Paul writes to the Corinthians, "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (2 Cor 12:9) Without Regan's deafness, there is no defeating the monsters.
In Part II, Lee's death has cast a long shadow. He was the co-leader and co-protector of the children and did rigorous research on the surrounding area's threats and potential to find safety. His death has impacted his children in hard ways, of course, but also good ways. Emmett, himself wrestling with grief after the death of his children and the recent demise of his wife, knows he is not up to the standard left by Lee. He does, however, know who is—Regan. Regan was inspired by her father's life and death and this fuels her courage to do what must be done for her family. In the climactic montage scene (the second impactful scene using montage in the film), Krasinski deafly cuts back and forth between Regan and Marcus, as they team together from afar to stand up to evil and chaos incarnate. They are their father's children. His parenting, teaching, love, and ultimate sacrifice have shaped who these children are becoming. This, in a way, is similar to the way Christians are being conformed to the image of their Father and the one who sacrificed himself for them, Christ. The way of courage and love is the way of Lee and the way of God. Those who love the Father and have been adopted into his family bear this family resemblance.