A Quiet Place (2018)

A Quiet Place, along with Heredity holds the distinction of being one of 2018's "smart horror movies". While I have not seen Heredity and can not speak to its merits first hand, I would say that A Quiet Place holds less in common with 2017's much praised "smart horror movie" Get Out, then it does with the work M. Night Shymalan, particularly Signs and The Happening. John Krasinski directed the film, co-wrote the screenplay, and stars opposite his real life wife Emily Blunt, as parents trying to keep their children safe after the world is invaded by vicious sightless monsters (probably aliens but this is never made explicit) who track their pray by sound. One of the reason's Krasinski's clan the Abbotts manage to survive is likely because their oldest child Regan (Millicent Simmonds, a young deaf actress who is quite good, and I hope she can continue to find parts in the future) can not hear and the family can communicate easily by sign language.

Hold up in a well appointed farm in what is apparently upstate New York, 400 something days after the start of the invasion, the family awaits the birth of their fourth child, the third child having been killed in the opening minutes of the movie. Babies cry, cry's attract the monsters, so various elaborate precautions are being taken to deal with that reality. There is also some strain in the family, principally on the part of Regan who blames herself for her siblings death. Arguably not much happens in this movie until rather late in its running time, the film is largely about mood, largely about the absence of sound. I of course saw this at home so my experience did not benefit from seeing it with an audience, and I am sure that in early crowded showings the tension in the theater was palpable. Unfortunately that tension did not quite translate into a home viewing, but this is still a strong film, its variations on apocalyptic scenarios sufficiently satisfying for its 90 minute length. I also want to congratulate Krasinski for making a film that can not be followed by only half watching and playing on ones phone, a big movie watching pet peeve of mine. ***1/2