The stereotypical bloodbath horror film is out and the psychological, tension-building horror film is in. “A Quiet Place” follows in the footsteps of last year’s “Get Out” as a new wave of intellectual films that incorporate horror elements to draw in audiences with different tastes. Set in a world where making the softest sound will get you killed, this story must be told through body language, facial expressions and sign language. You might not expect to experience a high level of intensity without any dialogue but many of cinema’s most intense moments occur when a character is silently stalked by their adversary. And that circumstance is this entire film! There are less than 20 lines of spoken dialogue in the film and yet, we get to know these characters on a deep level. The characters are developed through context clues that help us to learn of their professions, ailments, and fears. The execution of the story is as artistic as it is thrilling. I was particularly impressed with the way that each character’s style of American Sign Language reflects their personality (short/direct father, slow/nurturing mother, aggressive/rebellious daughter). John Krasinsky is best known for his portrayal of Jim on “The Office” and has done a decent job of transitioning onto the big screen over the past decade, but he took enormous strides into the industry by co-writing, directing, and starring in this film. The influence of “Alien” and “No Country for Old Men” can be seen in the camerawork and building of tension as he brings this world to life through his specific vision. There is a story behind every film and the timing of this film in relation to the recent birth of Krasinsky and Emily Blunt’s second child is no accident. Krasinsky has called this story an allegory for parenthood and their stunning performances reveal every parent’s fear of protecting their children from the world that surrounds us. On a literal level, the story captures the heartache of losing a child and the sacrifices that a parent is willing to make for their child. The stars’ real-life relationship adds so much to the raw emotions of the characters on-screen. I respect and applaud the use of deaf actress Millicent Simmonds to not only bring realism to her character but also to act as a guide to her costars in the use of ASL and the challenges faced by the hearing impaired. I can see how some might not enjoy the film because it is almost completely subtitled. This is the disconnect caused by the horror elements and the high-brow, intellectual parts of the film that might not appear to the average moviegoer; however, this may be the first step to creating a better-educated film audience. To fill in the long periods of silence, composer Marco Beltrami has crafted a score that gives the story a constant sense of forward motion and highlights the visual emotions without overshadowing them. The creature design is amazing and I love the first third of the film where we get small glances that maintain the mystery, but I had definitely seen too much of the creatures by the end. A “Jaws”/J.J. Abrams approach of saving the full creature view for later in the film would have worked much better. That being said, “A Quiet Place” is an incredible film that it worth of its praise and it just might continue the trend of horror films earning recognition at the Oscars.
[Pictured: This movie is intense from start to finish]
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