Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-review by Professor Popinjay

(2018)

(2021)

I hate slasher flicks but I love monster movies. Some might assume horror is horror is horror but the idea of some psychopath running around wantonly poking people with sharp objects just disgusts me.

Monster movies are different though. Take human psychology away from the antagonist, make it “man against animal” so to speak, and I’m perfectly fine with droves of extras being eviscerated, exsanguinated, or dismembered… so long as it’s presented tastefully instead of gratuitously.

I used to amass monster films by the baleful… I mean the bale full. Mimic, the Relic, Alien, Jurassic Park. Love em.

But there came a time when trailers were not so readily presented to me. Often times they were skippable and with the kids around, I usually took that opportunity… to skip. So I missed A Quiet Place for a long time. I have to say, once I did see the trailer, it looked REALLY scary. But it almost didn’t occur to me this was a monster film, the trailer was so subtle. It wasn’t until they (gnomes) started showing trailers for the second film that I became interested in the first.

And by then half my kids had been desensitized and wanted to watch it too. That’s why they joined me when we went to see A Quiet Place: Day 1 (2024) at the theater.

I love how each of these installments are really different from the others. It’s not like the Cloverfield movies, each of which started as a standalone film and was later connected with the others by title and some post production effects. The story arc is consistent from one Quiet Place to the next. But one movie deals with the family on the homestead, the next film deals with the family’s encounter with other groups of people in this world, and of course Day 1 goes back to when these monsters first showed up in the city. Each aspect demonrates an interesting and unique dynamic of the same situation. It’s really well done.

Major kudos to actress Millicent Simmonds who actually is deaf. The idea of a person who can’t hear in this world filled with exceptionally hearing monsters is such a compelling story. All of a sudden sign-language isn’t just a form of communication, it’s a survival skill for the whole family.

Having a deaf actor on set means an ASL interpreter is there as well, translating what the director says and hopefully doing a good job of it. Clearly all factors came together well and produced this banger of a film with some superb acting.

Part 2 brings the community aspect into the story and all the dangers and mistrust that comes with it. Also, mom has a newborn now. Good luck keeping that kid quiet.

So often in these monster films, while the monsters are a danger, they’re more a mere element of the story while the actual antagonist is some jerk that ruins everything for everyone until he gets his comeuppance. Countless zombie films go this way. The bad guys aren’t the zombies. The zombies may as well be hot lava, or swarming plague rats, or a tornado. You wouldn’t say the tornado was the villain of Twister… even if Jack Nicholson did play the part of the Tornado. The tornado was just an element. A Quiet Place Part 2 is when we meet the assholes.

Pretty sure Cillian Murphy is the same character he was in 28 Days Later (2002). Not sure how that works in that world to this but I’m fairly certain this is the case still regardless.

It’s all pretty great from start to finish. I have to say though, the ending of Part 2 reminds me of another film. I really want to say what it reminds me of but I think it will give too much away. Okay, I’ll just give ample warning. If you haven’t seen A Quiet Place Part 2 yet and you don’t want it spoiled, I’ll bid you “Adieu” here. Thanks for reading. You’re wonderful and I’ll see you next Non-review.

Now for the rest of you…

POSSIBLE SPOILER FOR A QUIET PLACE PART 2!!!! READ NO FURTHER LEST YE HAVE SEEN A QUIET PLACE PART 2 AND WANT TO READ POPINJAY’S HILARIOUS OBSERVATION!!!

Okay, everyone has been warned. Here goes:

The ending of A Quiet Place Part 2 is very similar to the ending of Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! Exchange that high frequency radio sound with Slim Whitman’s “Indian Love Call” and WHAMO! All you need now is Danny DeVito and three Jack Nicholsons and you’ve got Mars Attacks! all over again. In fact, somebody please overlay that song over the finale in A Quiet Place Part 2 because that would be hilarious.

There. I said it.

Still a great couple of flicks.