A Quiet Place Part II was a rare sequel that many felt matched the original, but what other horrors does star Emily Blunt have lurking on her filmography and how do they compare? Most actors have at least a handful of horror movies to their name. For many, acting in the genre gives them a chance to beef up their list of credits while getting their name out.
That was certainly the case for many future stars like Brad Pitt, who starred in Cutting Class before his big break, or Bradley Cooper, who appeared in numerous horror movies before he became a bonafide movie star later in his career. However, some actors manage to avoid relying on horror for early exposure and instead end up moving into the genre later. Take The Devil Wears Prada’s breakout star, Emily Blunt.
Blunt made a name for herself as a supporting star with acclaimed performances throughout the 2000s and became a well-known leading lady by the end of the decade. However, it wasn’t until 2007’s Wind Chill that Blunt made her first foray into horror, and it would be another three years before she took on another horror role in 2010’s The Wolfman, a Bram Stoker’s Dracula-style spooky period-piece set in Victorian London. After that, Blunt’s most recent pair of genre efforts are A Quiet Place movies, but how do these compare to her earlier screen scares?
The Wolfman (2010)
In a “worst of a good lot” situation, 2010’s The Wolfman remake is a serviceable slice of action-horror that only suffers in comparison with Blunt’s better releases. There is a lot to like in Jumanji director Joe Johnson’s re-telling of the classic Universal monster movie, with a massive $150 million budget ensuring this lavish period piece has style to spare. However, while The Wolfman boasts a rare effective CGI-assisted werewolf transformation courtesy of Rick Baker, the plot is predictable and the gory R-rated horror doesn’t gel well with the campy tone. That said, this pre-Dark Universe attempt at modernizing Universal horror icons is a lot better than 2017’s The Mummy, and deserved better than becoming a financial dud.
A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
Noisier and faster-paced than its 2018 predecessor, the much-delayed A Quiet Place Part II could easily have been a disappointing sequel to director John Krasinski’s 2018 sci-fi horror hit. However, the addition of Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou, and Scoot McNairy to the original’s sparse cast list ensures that this follow-up adds more characters of interest in addition to more gore and chaotic chase scenes. Blunt is stellar as ever while Millicent Simmonds builds on her superb work in the first film, making the many Jurassic Park references and Alien borrows easier to forgive. A Quiet Place Part II isn’t quite as scary as the original, but it is a strong sequel nevertheless.
Wind Chill (2007)
Wind Chill sees Emily Blunt’s student accept a ride home for Christmas from a fellow scholar, only for the pair’s trip to descend into terror when they are accosted by ghosts on the interstate. This 2007 chiller doesn't have the most promising premise on paper, and the fact this film from Magic Mike XXL director Gregory Jacobs has been all-but-forgotten doesn't bode well for its prospects. However, this offbeat ghost story is a thoughtful, deeply creepy two-hander that combines the existential dread of trippy horrors like Jacob's Ladder or Carnival of Souls with the tight, claustrophobic focus of fellow car-set horrors In Fear and From The Dark. Scary, and underrated, Wind Chill is an underseen delight.
A Quiet Place (2018)
The top spot on this rundown is reserved for 2018’s deservedly-lauded A Quiet Place. Krasinski’s tense direction and Blunt’s near-wordless performance ensure this adrenaline-spiking thrill ride is scarier and more effective than its admittedly silly premise has any right to be. A Quiet Place is plagued by plot holes, but in terms of pure fear factor mixed with surprising heart, this brutally efficient scare machine is easily Emily Blunt’s best horror movie.