A Quiet Place - A Movie Review

Whatever you do, don’t make a sound or they will hear you.

Released to theaters in 2018, A Quiet Place takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. Terrorized by ultra-sensitive alien monsters who attack at the slightest noise, a family is forced to live in silence. One night, they are put to the ultimate test living a horrible nightmare.

I had so much fun seeing A Quiet Place when it was out in theaters. I was afraid to make even the smallest noise, like bite down on my candy bar. A Quiet Place is a unique horror film. In this well-directed film, a family learns to defend themselves from these terrifying creatures.

Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmons, and Noah Jupe embody the terror of the ordeal. Most of the film is acting through riveting emotions, sign language, and little spoken dialogue. The film does a great job with the family dynamic. Besides the horror of these creatures, the family is recovering from a horrific tragedy that has affected each of them.

Emily Blunt is a powerhouse. I wanted to applaud her for her heroic fighting demeanor. Evelyn is a wonderful mother. But she holds onto guilt. She goes through an endless battle of torment over the course of the film. No matter what, Evelyn never gives in, continuing to fight. That’s what I love about her. Blunt performed sudden pain without making a sound very well.

Married in real life, Blunt and Krasinski mastered the relationship between Evelyn and Lee. I adore this relationship. Their love is so deep that they would do anything for one another’s safety. My favorite scene was when they confront each other asking what kind of parents they turned out to be.

A Quiet Place went for authenticity. Just like her character, Simmons is deaf in real life. Simmons explored the anguish, guilt, and internal battle that Regan has faced. She and Krasinski did an amazing job with their interactions, bringing to life a moment so deep that it made the cast emotional.

While Beau (Jupe) is wonderful at captivating fear, I feel like his character could have had a better motivation. Most of the time he is going along with someone else, or just acting scared. I enjoyed his suspenseful scenes with Simmons where they created a heartwarming sibling bond. I wish he could have been used more in the climax.

Little details say so much about the story. There is an enormous amount of subtly. You should go back and watch a second time. Because of the quiet atmosphere, audiences pay attention better. The family is living a new normal. Sound familiar? Figuring out new ways to live life, the family has to tiptoe barefoot, speak in sign language, and play games that are silent.

The special effects of the monsters were very impressive. They looked real. However, they resembled a little too much of a famous monster from the classic thriller Alien. That does not ruin anything because the monsters still startled me.

John Krasinski gave himself an important role as the director of A Quiet Place. He mastered the horror. Jump scares were authentic. Movies tend to go overboard with jump scares thinking that’s what horror is all about. No, the horror in A Quiet Place is the danger of making the tiniest noise. Audiences become involved, remaining stone quiet.

Unfortunately due to the pandemic, A Quiet Place II is rescheduled to come out in 2021. I cannot wait to see what new elements will be brought to the screen. If you have not seen it, I recommend that you watch A Quiet Place. Be aware this it is suspenseful.