If they hear you, they hunt you. In this terrifying suspenseful thriller, a family must navigate their lives in silence to avoid mysterious creatures that hunt by sound. Knowing that even the slightest whisper or footstep can bring death, Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee (John Krasinski) Abbott are determined to find a way to protect their children at all costs while they desperately search for a way to fight back.
“The Office” goofball turned CIA spokesman, John Krasinksi, stars, co-writes, and directs this clever sci-fi/horror hybrid. His wife, supreme actor Emily Blunt, co-stars and as usual steals the show. Blunt has proven herself to be capable in any genre but I enjoy her action roles the most.
Set in the autumn of rural upstate New York, Lee (Krasinski) and Evelyn (Blunt) approach a dilapidated supermarket with their three children in tow. Abandoned cars and scores of missing person posters cover a wall like wild ivy. The family remains silent, only communicating through ASL, and every movement is carefully thought out as the heavily pregnant Evelyn scavenges through prescription pills. They are running from large limbed monsters with craniums that open up to display a massive slimy ear canal that serves as their method of hunting. On their way out, the young son Beau picks up a toy rocketship that lights up and emits a large siren, and the actions of his inherent childish innocence have dire consequences.
Like any great horror, the family experiences a tragedy that sets the tone for the film and resonates for necessary character development. Millicent Simmonds, who happens to actually be deaf, plays the only daughter Regan. She’s a guilt-ridden teenage girl whose disability becomes a weapon for survival.
The sound design and production design are the true standouts of this film. The writers intelligently turn the mundane, routine acoustics and tasks of daily life into a terrifying ordeal. I loved how the family ate their meals on large leaves of lettuce to keep from the clanging of dishes, and laundry is washed delicately by hand. Sand is placed throughout the ideal farmstead to keep noises muffled, and their Monopoly board game’s metallic pieces are replaced with soft sewn objects. It’s impressive how this dangerous world is brought to life in a compelling, believable manner.
My one major grievance with the film is that the score is unimaginative and familiar. It’s thrashing ominously distorted horn section sounds like a rip-off pulled from “Inception” or “Sicario.” During intense scenes, the heartbeat droning sounds gives more of a trailer atmosphere than a spare, desperate narrative. All in all, I love this film and am looking forward to the sequel. I think it’s ingenious to cast the star of “28 Days Later,” Cillian Murphy, in a role.
There’s nothing like the first time but I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the story. I’m thankful for an original story and each act being well-thought-out. “A Quiet Place” is one of those rare horror films that keeps a consistent logical tone and has a third act that’s wonderfully orchestrated.
Available in a collectible Mondo X Steelbook 4K Ultra HD Combo March 10th
