If you liked the first A Quiet Place you’ll probably like this one. It doesn’t really change the formula, but it updates just enough to not feel pointless.

The film’s greatest strength, and greatest weakness, is that it focuses on individual sequences more than an overall narrative. This leads to the film’s set pieces being just as tense and terrifying as the first film’s. The sound design is absolutely perfect, using silence to fantastic effect. The performances are another highlight, with Millicent Simmonds and Cillian Murphy being the standouts.

The film does suffer a bit narratively. Every now and then you can feel the invisible hand of the writer nudging characters to be where they need to, even if it goes against decisions we feel they’d make. The script also underutilizes Emily Blunt, and it completely wastes Djimon Hounsou. (Why can’t anybody in Hollywood find a halfway decent role for him? He’s a great actor.)

A QUiet Place Part II’s excellent directing and sound work make it a great choice to see in a theater (if it is safe for you to do so). It’s certainly a worthy follow up to the first.