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Definitely a direct continuation of the first film rather than a sequel featuring the new adventures of the same characters, this movie uses the same tricks as Part 1 to create tense moments as the Abbott family attempts to survive a dangerous post-apocalyptic landscape. Things open strong, as we see the day the aliens came to Earth and how fast the carnage ensued. (Anyone hoping on an explanation of the aliens origins will be disappointed because we get little new information about their arrival.) It’s a good sequence, but we quickly jump forward to immediately after where the last movie ended. Things are a little boring for a while, because there’s really no clue what direction the story will take. And while the first film was entertaining even without any conflict, it was because there was a lot of interesting material as we watched how this family survived a unique type of danger. Here, the novelty wears off a bit, and there are a lot more loopholes in the “no sound” gimmick. Couple that with a device that allows them to kill the aliens, there’s a lot less tension this time around. Eventually, the story ramps up the intensity, mostly propelled by characters making really dumb decisions. Aside from a few blatant jump scares, the story is structured to where you’re fairly convinced the main characters will survive to at least the final act. The finale isn’t as nail-biting as they intended, and the ending feels pretty abrupt. But, strong acting and some likable characters keep you engaged, while the ramped up action adds some excitement.
*** out of *****