'Quiet', Terrifying and Masterful

Emily Blunt & Millicent Simmonds

A QUIET PLACE

dir. John Krasinski 

       Sometimes the best thing a movie can do is not over-explain the what and when of it's own cinematic setup and the setup of "A QUIET PLACE" is fairly straightforward. But within that straightforwardness, the filmmakers and actors manage to make an emotional and terrifying piece of cinema that is a welcome addition to the plethora of excellent horror films that have been coming out in recent years. 

     Set two years from now, most of the world has been wiped out due to mysterious creatures that hunt and kill by sound and we follow a family as they try to live and thrive in this near silent dystopia. The relationship of the parents (Emily Blunt & John Krasinski) and their children, one of whom is deaf, (Millicent Simmonds & Noah Jupe) and how they survive and prosper in this environment against the unknown and disturbing force that threatens them is front and center here. That universal core allows the scares and horror to grow organically from the story and characters rather than just having jump scares or disturbing moments for the sake of maintaining or fulfilling a juvenile quota. 

    The film's use of silence and subtitles are among what make this story so universal and groundbreaking in terms of genre filmmaking as the first act is composed entirely of Silence, Marco Beltrami's score, and Subtitles for important conversations that are entirely ASL (American Sign Language). Those elements along with the amazing central performances are what set "QUIET" apart from other horror films or rather any kind of modern genre films. It is the best example of being loud with less and one of the best films you'll see this or any year.