A Quiet Place - movie review
A Quiet Place
Plot: A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.
Cast: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds
Director: John Krasinski
Certificate: 15 (sustained threat)
Runtime: 1hr 30 mins
Release Date: Thursday 5th April 2018
Make sure you see A Quiet Place in the emptiest screen possible. Usually I encourage busy screens to gain the full experience with a crowd (so long as they're behaving) but for this, you need guaranteed silence. I had a couple of people in my screening and if anyone moved or made the slightest sound, our heads snapped round to look at them in disdain. One latecomer even sneaked in on his tiptoes. A Quiet Place is the latest horror film to grace our screens produced by Platinum Dunes, a production company run by Michael Bay. Imagine my amazement when this became my favourite movie of 2018 so far.
 |
| This Come Dine With Me episode was a little tense. |
Silence. It's a mechanic that all horror movies exploit but rarely ever incorporate into the actual plot. A Quiet Place is all about sound being your worst enemy. The general premise is set in the not-too distant future as the world has been ravaged by creatures that attack upon hearing the smallest sound. That's all the exposition we're given and that's all we need. Instead of focusing on a rebellion hoping the save the world and return it to its former glory, the stakes are switched to a single family who are simply trying to survive. Sound is manipulated ingeniously throughout the film and much of that has to do with Krasinski's pristine direction. Family life has to drastically alter to accommodate the urgent absence of sound for survival. Meals are eaten upon leaves rather than China plates and cutlery is replaced with your own fingers. In one scene, the children are playing Monopoly with soft, fabric figures to move across the board. Even when outside, sand is poured over footpaths to reduce noise. Little details like this don't necessarily add a great deal to the plot but as far as the creation of this world is concerned, it's perfect world building. Witnessing how this family operates in their day to day life was one of the most compelling aspects to A Quiet Place but these ideals are eventually threatened when the family are faced with issues and struggles in which a sound is impossible to avoid. One character suffers an emergency in which she can't help but scream aloud. Other circumstances include graphic injuries where the pain has to be kept internal and crashes and bangs that characters must keep away from at all costs. Because of these precautions, when sound eventually bursts through the speakers giving the audience a jolt of fear, the monsters begin to creep closer. What this means is that we get multiple set-pieces of this family in extreme peril as the tension rockets sky-high and your nails begin to chip away at your armrests. I wouldn't say A Quiet Place is scary but it had me on the edge of my seat from the opening and never settled until the credits rolled. If you're looking for an adrenaline ride, this is your best bet. Because of the lack of sound and dialogue, your attention is magnified to notice as much as you can. The clever and well-thought out set design that gives an insight into this family as well as their past is a particular highlight. It also means that whenever a sound is heard, your ears immediately prick up and you heartbeat starts beating a million times a minute. Every glass that breaks, footstep or heavy breath is enhanced as we realise how dangerous their situation has just become. As for the monsters themselves, they rely on sound to hunt and the detail given to these creature is remarkable. Not only has there been given an incredible amount of thought as to their biology and construction, but the visual effects (through the help of ILM) are impressive for a film with a budget of only $17 million.
 |
| No one interrupts my bathtime. |
FACT: Bryan Woods and Scott Beck's original screenplay contained only one line of dialogue.
A Quiet Place is an unmissable masterclass in horror and suspense but at the heart of it all, is a family drama. The dynamic between family members is what makes this film work so well. Usually, in these horror circumstances, it's rare to care about the protagonists of the story but after opening with a terrifying family tragedy, your heart is instantly latched onto them in the most endearing manner possible. Krasinski and Blunt (married in real life) portray the parents facing insurmountable odds to keep their children alive at all costs. Putting Jim Halpert from The Office to one side, Krasinski not only cements himself as a director to watch but a true acting talent who isn't only restricted to comedy. Blunt, as the homely wife and mother who endeavours to give her children as much of a normal life as possible, is impressive as always. As can be expected, the two share a loving chemistry but it's the child stars that make the greatest impact. Noah Jupe, who impressed in last year's Wonder, gives yet another amazing performance as the youngest son. He shares a great bond with Krasinski as he envisions Jupe to grow into a man to lead the family at an early age. The way Jupe expresses pure panic and terror without speaking is where the true horror lies. Sometimes, you don't need to see the actual terror but how others react to it. However, Millicent Simmonds runs away as the breakout star of A Quiet Place. In an inspired casting choice, Krasinski casts Simmonds to play the daughter of the family who faces the biggest struggle of all; she's deaf. Simmonds, who is deaf herself, poses the question of how do you stay alive when you can't hear the monsters at all. In an emotionally complex performance, Simmonds becomes the heart and soul of the movie as we follow her on a journey of fear, guilt and an attempt to prove herself to her father. A Quiet Place also doesn't hold back on the mortal dangers this family face and when disaster strikes, Krasinski and his scriptwriting team aren't afraid to hit you in the gut to get a couple of tears flowing. I was also a fan of how gritty and lived-in this world was. This wasn't a new scenario for the family. Traps had been put in place. Alert systems surround the farm. Crops have been planted. A Quiet Place must be the most authentic depiction of a post apocalyptic world to hit cinemas in recent years. It's so refreshing to see a film not center itself around the start of this pandemic nor a group ending it. No exposition. No drawn out save-the-day clichés. What makes A Quiet Place so terrifying is that the smaller stakes make it relatable for any family.
 |
| Time for a redecoration? |
John Krasinski has made an immersive cinematic experience that take you on an intense, rollercoaster ride that grips you tight, shuts you up for ninety minutes and will never let you forget where you were when you saw A Quiet Place for the first time. The family dynamics elevate the film to a fresh and original level and the young talents make one heck of an impact. There's no other way to describe A Quiet Place. Masterpiece.
My Verdict: 10/10
If you like what you've seen here don't forget to share this with everyone you know, comment below and check out my other reviews. Thanks for reading!!
Follow the official Luke's Reviews Facebook page: fb.me/LukeStapley26
Follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LukeStapley1
Comments
Post a Comment