Written by: Kevin Berge
I know they're kids, but haven't they spent their whole life being quiet? Why does this family ever need to shush? (Image Courtesy of: variety.com)
Quick Take: A Quiet Place has a simple premise that is executed with fast and intense focus that could one day allow it to be seen as a horror classic. While cheap with its thrills at times, it is engaging, brutal horror that does more with less.
***This review will not contain spoilers beyond the basic concept of A Quiet Place. Those looking to go in completely blind would want to avoid this, but, if you already know the basic premise and want to know whether it is worth checking out, you can read ahead without worry.***
The greatest films have a simple premise, a concept that can be described in a few sparse words that holds expansive possibilities. A Quiet Place almost needs its title alone to capture the simplicity of its premise which is a testament to how impressively it presents itself.
This horror film is set in an apocalyptic future where everyone must stay quiet to escape the ears of mysterious violent creatures. The entire movie's focus in on the Abbott family trying to get by in this world: a father Lee (John Krasinski), mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt), their two sons Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward), and their deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds).
In order to survive, these characters must always stay quiet. They mostly speak in sign language, barely even able to verbalize their words into a whisper. Even a single item crashing to the floor can instantly send one or two of the creatures charging in to attack.
In this way, A Quiet Place has very little to say verbally. The script is as sparse as it gets, and it benefits from that. So much of the storytelling here is done with emotions. Frustration, weeping, and pain can all be so much more intense when the character is forced to hold it in to avoid making too much noise.
The movie also knows just how much horror it can create by simply playing with the sound. Marco Beltrami's (3:10 to Yuma) score comes in and out to develop the tension. It is extremely noticeable when there's no music. Sometimes, it can even feel like the film is cheating, using that effect to create artificial tension.
This is particularly true of a few unnecessary jump scares in this film. This movie is almost perfect for large stretches then just throws in an unearned scare at the wrong moment to break the mood. With horror this intense, all you need is to drive the story forward because every moment can be pure horror.
The greatest films have a simple premise, a concept that can be described in a few sparse words that holds expansive possibilities. A Quiet Place almost needs its title alone to capture the simplicity of its premise which is a testament to how impressively it presents itself.
This horror film is set in an apocalyptic future where everyone must stay quiet to escape the ears of mysterious violent creatures. The entire movie's focus in on the Abbott family trying to get by in this world: a father Lee (John Krasinski), mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt), their two sons Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward), and their deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds).
In order to survive, these characters must always stay quiet. They mostly speak in sign language, barely even able to verbalize their words into a whisper. Even a single item crashing to the floor can instantly send one or two of the creatures charging in to attack.
In this way, A Quiet Place has very little to say verbally. The script is as sparse as it gets, and it benefits from that. So much of the storytelling here is done with emotions. Frustration, weeping, and pain can all be so much more intense when the character is forced to hold it in to avoid making too much noise.
The movie also knows just how much horror it can create by simply playing with the sound. Marco Beltrami's (3:10 to Yuma) score comes in and out to develop the tension. It is extremely noticeable when there's no music. Sometimes, it can even feel like the film is cheating, using that effect to create artificial tension.
This is particularly true of a few unnecessary jump scares in this film. This movie is almost perfect for large stretches then just throws in an unearned scare at the wrong moment to break the mood. With horror this intense, all you need is to drive the story forward because every moment can be pure horror.
Krasinski really had to grow that beard thick to avoid looking like clean-cut Jim. (Image Courtesy of: rogerebert.com)
The focus of this movie is never really on the creatures or the world. This is just about how difficult it can be to survive without making much of any sound and the trauma that comes from living in such a dangerous landscape. In particular, it is clear to see the psychological effect this world has based on the growth of the children.
Regan may be deaf, leaving her at a disadvantage, but she's grown strong and determined. The younger Marcus though is consistently frightened of stepping out from the family's main living space, not trusting he can avoid panicking when it matters most.
In this way, Millicent Simmonds' (Wonderstruck) performance stands out as you feel every moment of her struggles and desires in a way Noah Jupe (The Night Manager) cannot quite match up to. Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow) is the clear strongest actor, but Simmonds can occasionally match her emotion.
This film is so deceptively simple that it is easy to look past the impact of Krasinski's work as director for this film. With a film this sparse on dialogue, so much of the stroytelling comes from the pacing and camerawork. His work especially also with the aid of cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen (Fences) makes for a gorgeous, eerie, and intense ride.
If not for a few cheap moments and an ending that can feel just a bit hokey if it wasn't trying to set the stage for a sequel, this would have been a pretty perfect horror experience, one that certainly had me on the edge of my seat throughout the run time.
Even still, the faults are minimal, and they could be forgotten in the long run. This is a film that can stand next to the best in its genre, and it has clearly had wide appeal given its massive success. I don't know that even needs a sequel.
What the film really shows is how powerful a well-executed premise can be. In a time where the focus seems to be squarely on adapting large scale stories with massive budgets, A Quiet Place shows that a small budget and a simple idea can make for the best cinema has to offer.
Regan may be deaf, leaving her at a disadvantage, but she's grown strong and determined. The younger Marcus though is consistently frightened of stepping out from the family's main living space, not trusting he can avoid panicking when it matters most.
In this way, Millicent Simmonds' (Wonderstruck) performance stands out as you feel every moment of her struggles and desires in a way Noah Jupe (The Night Manager) cannot quite match up to. Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow) is the clear strongest actor, but Simmonds can occasionally match her emotion.
This film is so deceptively simple that it is easy to look past the impact of Krasinski's work as director for this film. With a film this sparse on dialogue, so much of the stroytelling comes from the pacing and camerawork. His work especially also with the aid of cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen (Fences) makes for a gorgeous, eerie, and intense ride.
If not for a few cheap moments and an ending that can feel just a bit hokey if it wasn't trying to set the stage for a sequel, this would have been a pretty perfect horror experience, one that certainly had me on the edge of my seat throughout the run time.
Even still, the faults are minimal, and they could be forgotten in the long run. This is a film that can stand next to the best in its genre, and it has clearly had wide appeal given its massive success. I don't know that even needs a sequel.
What the film really shows is how powerful a well-executed premise can be. In a time where the focus seems to be squarely on adapting large scale stories with massive budgets, A Quiet Place shows that a small budget and a simple idea can make for the best cinema has to offer.
