A little noise is okay…a big noise is not okay. Just a handful of days since its theatrical release, and “A Quiet Place” has already found a home as one of the best horror movies you will ever find.
Something horrible is lurking out there, this much we know from the start. Barbarous creatures that are blind, hunting strictly by sound and killing whatever they find in a succinct and efficient way. Its taut 90 minute length is seamless, and wastes no time in dealing out tension and fear as we follow the Abbott family and their struggle to keep hidden, residing amidst the shadows of a besieged town in the aftermath of the creatures’ arrival.
Writer/director John Krasinski takes the unique premise and applies hints of rugged survivalism and family togetherness, blending along some elements from cinema’s greatest thrillers to craft a wonderful and nearly perfect gem of a scary story. Krasinski is best known as the smiling slacker Jim from the hit television series “The Office,” and makes his professional directorial debut here, immediately rendering himself a force to be reckoned with.
He’s stellar in the role of Lee Abbott – the devout family patriarch, both a loving husband and a caring father. But where Krasinski shines is behind the camera, making brilliant choices as the film’s director. He brings the element of suspense to each and every scene and smart decisions such as shooting footage in the rustic town of Little Falls, NY, or choosing to cast deaf actress Millicent Simmons as daughter Regan make the movie exceed expectations.
Krasinski has said he has never liked horror movies because they scare him too much – let’s hope this changes and we get many more films from him in the genre.
The premise is simple enough, and has been seen many times before. Where “A Quiet Place” triumphs is the element of sound – or lack thereof. The score is done in a perfect way that’s subtle, bringing normalcy to the film, but never once stepping on the toes of the overall premise – that the family must live in silence to avoid attracting certain death. Various snippets of newspapers and notes offer glimpses of whats happening, but the focus is smartly not on who or why the creatures are out there – it’s how can the Abbott family survive.
Opposite Krasinski is Emily Blunt as Evelyn Abbott. Blunt is the real life wife of Krasinski, and her casting wasn’t by accident. That the pair work so fluidly together brings across a genuine love and closeness, and makes the audience accept the predicament they’re in.
Blunt has etched herself as an elite actress, with staring roles in films like “The Girl on the Train,” “Sicario,” and the hilarious “Wild Target,” and here takes her skills to the next level. She operates with perfect facial expressions to convey her emotions, trapped by a need to remain silent. Blunt owns the climactic sequence, and its one you’ll marvel at both while its happening and long after the movie has expired.
Lee and Evelyn Abbott are displayed as typical parents. We can imagine them dealing with the daily struggles of family life prior to the events of the story, and are now required to do the unthinkable to manage the crisis. A touching interaction between Lee and his son Marcus (Noah Jupe) is the type of thing we can imagine would still happen in spite of the danger. We generally like the Abbott family and that’s what makes the overall plot so much more investing.
“A Quiet Place” isn’t a bloodbath, but a horror movie that relies on tension and stealth, and the fear of the unknown. There aren’t cheap jump scares – but many expensive ones, and they play perfectly alongside the true gripping tension.
Do yourself a favor and see it in the theater. Never has the need to keep quiet been more terrifying. As you watch in the darkness, there won’t be an audible sound – except the thumping of your own heart racing.
by – Matt DeCristo
