When was the last time you had a moment of silence and found it to be completely golden and sheer bliss? Now imagine a world where silence is a matter of life and death and the slightest sound can get you killed.
A Quiet Place is an excellent post-apocalyptic thriller where menacing aliens have destroyed most of mankind. The opening sequence wastes no time in setting the tone of the abandoned and isolated ghost town world where two children have survived with their parents (John Krasinski and Emily Blunt). Daughter (Millicent Simmonds) is deaf so the family has learned to communicate with each other through sign language. It’s probably the reason they’re still alive. It’s only a matter of minutes before the silence is shattered and we get our first glimpse of the terror that lies in store whenever the slightest noise can jeopardize their safety. From that moment forward, even we in the audience feel compelled to not make a sound out of fear for the characters’ lives.
Post opening credits springs us forward a few hundred days to find the mother Evelyn now heavily pregnant, her due date just around the corner. Husband Lee has set up a room in the basement with TV screens to monitor outside movement. Newspaper clippings and notes on a whiteboard outline what is known about the aliens and the terror the family faces: the creatures are blind, but if you make a sound they will find you and hunt you down. But, what is their weakness? Lee doesn’t yet know, and we don’t either.
The constructed world is tension-filled. Floorboards are marked with sand so as not to creak, the Abbott family is afraid to speak. Marco Beltrami score is calm as tension builds, the sense of dread mounts with each second. Hanging over this well-executed stillness is the pervasive realization that the Abbotts must prepare for a baby whose arrival will come with inevitable sounds to pierce that silence and wreak havoc on their lives.
We’ll leave any further plot details at that.
One of the things that makes A Quiet Place such an effective sci-fi thriller/horror film is its tight 95-minute runtime. Leaving no room for backstory, we don’t know how the aliens got here or who else has survived the apocalypse. None of that matters, since we’re focused on the Abbots and their survival.
Krasinski ‘s direction is terrific, ensuring that his film is gripping from the very first sequence. The jump scares arrive with bold control and the shocks are well-deserved. There’s no misleading trickery. It’s a straightforward suspense-filled narrative, a scary rollercoaster ride of a film that jolts you out of your skin a few times and terrifies the hell out of you.
A Quiet Place strikes a special chord because this is not just another monster movie. The family dynamics conveyed by the actors are outstanding, so we’re invested in them. This is enhanced by the fact that 15-year-old actress Millicent Simmonds is herself deaf. Every shot we see from her point of view is done in complete silence, adding to the pulse racing tension. She delivers a performance that strongly resonates. Noah Jupe is equally impressive as her younger brother and together this 4-person ensemble create a subtle but emotionally powerful sense of bonding.
Blunt gives an incredibly rich performance, as a mother who desperately wants to protect her children but never forgets to give them hope. We see how well-adjusted both the Abbott children have become to their situation despite the inescapable fear that exists in their lives. A tender moment where she teaches her son basic maths later plays out in a way that underscores her maternal instincts.
In its skill at using silence to rivet our attention and its awareness of how the absence of sound can drive suspense, the film is often reminiscent of No Country for Old Men. Inspirations from Hitchcock and even Jurassic Park can also be seen and felt, but A Quiet Place holds its own.
Charlotte Bruus Christensen’s captivating cinematography is simply stunning. Whether it’s vistas of the vast landscape of the isolated world where the old farmhouse sits, or tight shots inside the Abbott’s improvised bunker, her work repeatedly leaves us in awe.
The sound design is thoroughly superb. Its powerful impact is essential to the film’s effect, because while silence necessarily fills so many tense minutes, whenever sound is deployed it’s cranked up for maximum intensity.
ILM once again excels in the creation of alien monsters. When we do finally see them, they reveal “faces” that will haunt your dreams at night and continue to make your skin crawl long after the credits have rolled.
Though it’s only April, John Krasinski has already delivered a standout that seems destined to be one of the scariest film of the year, with an excellent cast and riveting narrative at its core. Stay away from spoilers and see A Quiet Place on the big screen with an audience.
A Quiet Place is released on April 6
Go and marvel at the absolute quiet in the movie theater, even with a full house. And ask yourself when it’s over, whether you thoroughly enjoyed it or just thought it was no good, ask yourself whether you’d get the same feel from this movie if you were sitting at home, watching it alone. There’s just no way.
A wonderful example of what the communal experience of watching movies is all about. I’m so glad this isn’t a Netlflix pic. So glad.
The audience I saw it with behaved pretty well. There were several long passages in which you could hear a pin drop. My goodness I loved that. The crowd was immersed in this. I thought it was quite entertaining, and the main feeling i had by the end was how great it felt to be walking out of a movie theater with a big crowd that was energized all the way through.
Good times.
Terrifying my foot. You guys scared me and then I went and it was nothing. Jeez. 7/10 SIGNS for dummies
I could blow holes right through this thing but the movie does that itself. Key scenes prove that dear old Dad was a moron and then the fact that they constantly telegraph what the weakness will be? Puleeze. Come on, guys. I expect more from you. Have some standards.
This has quickly become my second fav film of the year! It would certainly be deserving of Picture, Director, Acting, and Tech mentions come Oscar season (esp. cinematography).
Just saw it – loved everything about this movie. Stellar. Tech nods have to be in the cards.
I want to see this really badly – I’m so glad that genre films like this can get acclaim and possibly Oscar contention. Hell, in between this and Hereditary, multiple horror thrillers might do well at the Oscars! That’s great!
I hope they do a push for Simmonds specifically
I absolutely loved it. I didn’t think it looked great in the trailers but was bored Friday so went. It’s fantastic.
A couple minor issues that make no sense given their situation but it’s a horror movie so I rolled with it.
John has a bright directing future ahead of him. Blunt is great as always. But to me the two kids stole the show. Simmons is such a great actress. So impressive.
“One of the things that makes A Quiet Place such an effective sci-fi thriller/horror film is its tight 95-minute runtime. Leaving no room for backstory, we don’t know how the aliens got here or who else has survived the apocalypse. None of that matters, since we’re focused on the Abbots and their survival.”
I walked out when the baby was born and started crying, and I just want to know what happened at the end, because I saw so many plot holes. And the one thing that bothered me throughout was how the aliens (why do they all look the same in every movie?) came to destroy earth. It kind of reminded me of I am Legend (which I will see again on DVD). And then when the baby came and started crying and I’m thinking, Okay, that baby is going to cry 24/7; how are they going to quiet that baby? feed the baby? how are they going to put a sock in the baby? And then I’m thinking, why did she get pregnant in the first place? Okay, I’m over-thinking this movie….and I can suspend disbelief with a lot of movies, but I couldn’t with this one. Maybe I’ll have to see it again.
And lastly, I don’t like to see children in danger. I just don’t, and that’s just something about me.
My big gripes are like you said: if they have to be quiet what the hell are they doing thinking having a baby is a good idea? Also there were several jump scares that just don’t make sense. If you’re trying to be quiet you don’t grab someone’s arm from the shadows or yank them back from a staircase.
Minor quibbles because I loved it. But those things are a tad annoying.
I just spent too much time overthinking the movie and that’s annoying. Sometimes movies have that “suspend disbelief” in them, but this one not for me. That nail in the step? They were up and down the steps for years and all of a sudden there’s a nail 🙂 And yeh, having a baby that’s going to be crying 24/7; and who would want to get pregnant in that horrible environment and after your son was killed by the creature?
That fucking nail did ruin the film somehow. I enjoyed it though.
How do you not get a binky from the free stores that have plenty of new fashions and medication just in case you know who comes early? Don’t even get me started. I don’t have time. I have to leave water running while my wife and newborn are below ground with only a mattress blocking it. Mattresses are non-porous right? lol
I tink dis movie tinkz weer stoopid.
A Quiet Place opening weekend beating Ready PlayerOne and Get Out. Have not seen it yet, great reviews.
‘Belle de jour’ or ‘Beauty of the Day’ (Luis Buñuel, 1967, Venice Festival Golden Lion Winner) is yet another essential viewing for our troubled #MeToo times. Her husband Pierre (Jean Sorel) is also cute as fuck.
https://i.giphy.com/media/NSlJiTgsXBV6w/source.gif
I know I sound like spamming, but the ultimate “me too” film of 2017 was “Colossal”. Without spoiling that much… there’re scenes that are chilling on that sense.
Note taken.
I hope this doesn’t sound like spamming but Twin Peaks: The Return has scenes that are even more chilling and is to me thematically largely about sexual assault and how people deal with it and its effects. For example one scene in a hotel room with the song My Prayer playing might be the most disturbing thing in any movie since Das weiße band
haven’t seen Twin Peaks: The Return… I need to be in David Lynch mood, to watch it. Probably recheck the whole original series first.
I kinda thought she was taking her power back. Is that what you meant?
I see that as the two of them trying to replace the damage caused years ago but being unable to as there is no fixing of trauma. Diane seems to be in utter pain and this is just bringing everything back. Every possibility of actual love or caring between the two is gone and all that is left is a mechanical healing process that is doomed even as an idea. In that way the scene feels a lot like the closing scene
Hmm.. maybe. That whole thing seemed like a netherworld limbo reality. I’m supposed to be going over them again but I keep getting sidetracked. I’ll keep that in mind when I watch it.
One of the best films of the year.
This is my ‘Infinity War’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnoBx999MZM
Oscars #2 for Bardem and Cruz? That would be pretty amazing. Husband and wife winning 2nd Oscars for a performance not in english and in a movie not set in an english speaking country. They really look great in the trailer (Darín, too) and I see a problem with the film competing for Foreign Film… would it be running for Iran? For Spain? I don’t think so… I even think that if any of those countries submit it, it would be disqualified, earning inmediate sympathies for bigger Oscars than the Foreign Film ghetto… If inellegible for Foreign Film, Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor nominations are more and more likely, if the film delivers, something the trailer and the main names track record -4 Oscars – indicates it will.
Fingers crossed. The trailer is kinda bad tho. Trying too hard to make it look like an upbeat thriller-mystery. I’m pretty sure it’s way more understated than that.
I get from the trailer, it’s going to focus extremely on acting… it’s going to be a show for Bardem, Cruz and Darín (among others)… those three actors, I know well enough, to think they can overcome the language barrier to even win in their cathegories… Both Bardem and Cruz were nominated in lead, before, for spanish-speaking roles… and it’s no secret that Ricardo Darín is another spanish-speaking Oscar-calibre performer. The movie can be really huge among critics… and watch out for Eduard Fernández… 10 Goya noms, 2 wins. He may steal the show, quite easily.
… on topic: re John Krasinski’s fantastic year… No Guts, No Glory. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt featured in a post-credits scene of Avengers: Infinity War as Reed Richards and Sue Storm. There’s been enough evidence pointing to that possible surprise…
1) F4 aren’t Fox but Constantin Films. Fox only had the distribution rights.
2) After “Fant4stic”, Constantin couldn’t produce another F4 film on time and on budget to justify keeping the property.
3) Constantin couldn’t resell the rights to Fox or anyone. The contract obligued the return of the rights to Marvel
4) The Metacritic incident with Silver Surfer listed in the cast and its actor posting (and deleting) multiple Silver Surfer stuff on its twitter
5) Marvel deliverately using “FANTASTIC” in capital letters to announce the early release of the film
6) Right after Krasinski addressing his interest in playing a MCU character after heavy buzz started on Krasinski and Blunt being approached to play them, post-merging
7) The letter of the Russo Brothers asking for total secrecy about the film… which basically the trailer gives away on its main plot… aside of some character’s deaths… the most likely point is the post-credits scenes.
So yeah, it looks like it really can happen. It probably won’t, but it seems that it can, or that Marvel is building up added buzz on it. (By the way, reports also have appeared – and it was no April’s Fools) that Hugh Jackman was spotted on the set of Avengers 4. Most likely just an inocent cameo and fan service, but whatever.
“A Quiet Place” perfectly summarizes my country’s (Spain) freedom of speech. I had to give up social media, completely, and shut up about politics.
It’s that bad.
It’s reviews so far are outstanding! Can’t wait to watch it as well.
Noah Jupe is becoming a little star.
I wanna see this.