In early 2016, writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods started working on a script for a rather unique horror film. Growing up in Iowa, the two watched numerous silent films in college, and they discussed making a silent horror film. Their script caught the attention of actor John Krasinski, who was intrigued by the concept of parents protecting their children. Krasinski signed on to not only star but also rewrite and direct what would be his third film directing credit. Though hesitant at first, his wife and fellow actress Emily Blunt signed on to star alongside her husband. Actress Millicent Simmonds, who is deaf in real life, was hired to lend the film some authenticity for deaf people. With a budget of $17 million, they went to Upstate New York to film this uniquely horrifying production. Finally, in April 2018, A Quiet Place was released to theaters.
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Synopsis
Most of humanity has been wiped out by mysterious creatures that rely on sound to find and kill their victims. We follow the Abbotts – Evelyn (Emily Blunt), husband Lee (John Krasinski), and kids Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and Marcus (Noah Jupe). With Regan being deaf and given the threat around them, the family has had to learn sign language to communicate. Unfortunately, the family is somewhat fractured because Regan feels guilty about the death of her younger brother Beau (Cade Woodward). Also, Lee has been trying to modify Regan’s cochlear implant to restore her hearing but to no avail. Through a series of events, the family is separated and away from the house when Evelyn starts going into labor. With the monsters approaching, the family has to rush together to defend their home while Evelyn gives birth. Will they survive the oncoming onslaught or will they be the next victims?
Review
A Quiet Place is an impressively well-made horror film considering it’s made by someone not traditionally known for horror. In an era where horror is typically marked by loud shouts and screams, this is a nice change of pace. Even though there’s hardly any dialogue, you’re still drawn in because you’re intrigued to see where it goes. The movie doesn’t feel the need to explain everything that’s happening, but rather letting the audience figure it out. It’s never explained where the creatures came from, how they got here, or why they’re here in the first place. It’s very similar to how Night of the Living Dead doesn’t explain how the zombies came to be. Granted, this movie is nowhere near as good as George Romero’s immortal classic, but it’s still a solid horror thriller. While it’s got plenty of good qualities, there’s plenty of bad qualities, too.
One good thing is the cast, as everyone goes a phenomenal job, especially given that they have very little dialogue. Special mention has to go to Millicent Simmonds, who’s able to convey a lot through her body language. Krasinski, Blunt, and Jupe also give solid performances, and they all feel believable as a close-knit family. The creature effects are impressive, with plenty of detail put into its head that separates into different plates. At a brisk 90 minutes, the film goes by fairly quickly and doesn’t feel bogged down with pointless filler. That said, there are a few plot contrivances that drag the film down, such as the dumb kid trope. Additionally, it seems the focus was more on putting the characters in danger instead of having them make rational decisions. Overall, A Quiet Place has some confusing and odd moments, but it’s still a fun thrill ride.
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