I checked out the new suspense/horror/sci-fi almost experimental film A Quiet Place on Sunday. This is the film written, directed, and starring John Krazinski (Jim from The Office) and co-starring his real life wife Emily Blunt (lucky man). It made a TON of money over the weekend, almost 25 million dollars more than the projections and based on how packed each showing was, I believe it. The 10:40am Sunday show I managed to get into had only about five empty seats left…. and an almost 100% silent audience (who loved the movie, based on chatter on the way out).
The film is about a family who has survived some sort of alien invasion (the movie is vague on details). It starts 90 days into the apparent end-of-the-world with Krazinski, Blunt, and their three kids silently raiding a drug store for supplies. It seems the aliens/hunters/monsters are blind and will attack only by sound so everything they do must be quiet, including communication.
The approach (or maybe gimmick) of the film is the use of sound and silence. All the actors use sign language and the daughter character is, in real life, deaf which (without explaining it to the audience) is why the family was able to survive (they already knew silent communication). None of this means this is a silent film; the use of environmental audio is itself a star of the film…. and every sudden loud noise itself a reason to worry. And they also have a film score so music plays throughout to drive suspense and tension.
And suspense and tension are the name of the game. Whether its just the commanding directing or editing or just the unique nature of having such a quiet film, this is one of the most suspenseful and thrilling films I’ve seen in a long time. You may just white-knuckle the whole film… either from the uncomfortable feeling of being in a large audience with such silence or the genuine ratcheted tension the film presents. Plus there are almost no tradition jump-scares… there are surprise moments but they aren’t (as I recall) accompanied by the guy with the violin screeching out the speakers. This is darn good film-making from an actor who has only made two (mostly unsuccessful) films in the past.
One cool thing about the film is that it rides the line between being an artsy indie film and a straight-up monster movie. The use of silence is almost an experiment and the writing is smart and well-acted. But the movie is ultimately just a family being hunted by creatures with big teeth. It’s a B movie on a relatively small budget directed and acted like an A film that encroaches on being an art house experience. And if you are the kind of person who runs screaming from the term “art house” films, don’t worry. It’s not that… it just has some of the trappings.
Also, if you are the kind of person who reads, “monsters hunting a family” and is turned off, I get it. But just know this is a smart film about a family in a tense situation. There’s some very powerful and moving scenes… and one moment with Krazinski and his daughter that will likely bring tears to your eyes. It is a deeply suspenseful film and it has a low body count and creepy creature, but it’s not a graphic film. It’s a relatively clean PG13.
I really enjoyed and was creeped out by this film. One of the most effective thrillers/horror films I’ve seen in a long time. It’s well acted, smartly directed, and should be remembered for those crazy sound awards come Oscar time. I think anyone who is interested in – and can handle – good clean suspense will enjoy this one.
Score: 88