If you are a fan of the horror genre, you’ll want to get yourself to the cinema pronto to see A Quiet Place II — the petrifying follow-up to the 2018 original.
Written and directed once more by John Krasinski, the sequel stars Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe as the Abbott family, who must try to survive in their silent world, while grieving the loss of Lee (Krasinski) and ensuring the survival of the newest member of the clan.
A Quiet Place II sees 18-year-old Simmonds step into a leading role as Regan, who is questioning if she has the integrity of her late father and is determined to try to save her family.
In an interview with POPSUGAR Australia, Simmonds said that she was thrilled to return to the world of the Abbotts and the terrifying creatures that threaten them.
“I was overwhelmed at first stepping into the lead role but hearing first hand from John what his vision was and how excited he was, I knew I was in after the first five minutes,” the actress said. “I definitely felt that void of not acting with John but I think he had more pressure on the second and was able to focus more on directing. He’s brilliant in front and behind the camera.”
Simmonds said that while she loved Krasinski’s “laser focus” she also truly loved what his on and off-screen wife, Blunt, brought to the table.
“Emily brings such a lightness and joy to set,” Simmonds revealed. “We could be filming a really dark, intense scene and right after we cut, she’s making everyone laugh. I love that about her.”
Those dark, intense scenes are plentiful in A Quiet Place II, and are heightened in Simmonds’ scenes as Regan, like Simmonds herself, is deaf.
“The sequel was very different from the first,” Simmonds said of shooting the follow-up. “That’s what excited me the most. It was a different story and not what you expect at all.
“It was definitely both physically and emotionally more demanding for me, but I loved that. It’s hard to act terrified of someone that is dressed in a green suit or a piece of tape on a wall but John is very good at really putting you emotionally in the scene. I credit him for that.”
It’s no secret that A Quiet Place II was supposed to hit cinemas in 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic. Given that the themes of the film include coping with loss, isolation and the destruction of life as we know it, the new release date of May 27, 2021, in some ways feels more resonant.
“I think there are a lot of metaphors in this movie for what we’ve gone through in the last year,” Simmonds mused. “It almost seems like better timing to release it now than a year ago. I think that hope is the biggest takeaway from this movie.”
For the young actress (who, incidentally, says she would be the first to die if faced with the creatures in real life), the inspiration to continue acting comes from providing positive representation for the Deaf community. However, she has no plans to leave it at just performing.
“I just graduated High School so I’d love to take some time off,” she said. “Maybe a leap year and just travel. But I’ve always loved writing. I’d love to explore all of the different facets of this industry. I’d love to be behind the camera at some point.”
Until that time, we cannot urge you enough to and see this phenomenal young star in A Quiet Place II, which she warns is even scarier than the first one.
“My wish is for people to just be able to disconnect from the everyday stresses and just enjoy going to a movie again,” Simmonds said. “This last year has been hard on everybody. It would mean the world to me to just have people be able to forget about what’s going on for a little bit and go on this journey with us.
“We worked so hard and we are all so proud of this. I think that’s what would mean the most.”
A Quiet Place II is now showing at Hoyts Cinemas. Check out session times now.
