A Quiet Place (2018)

One of the most creative and innovative horror films I have seen in a long time, this is the story of a family whose very existence is under constant threat from a largely unseen adversary.

The film initially has a sort of post-apocalyptic feel, as the town in which we first meet this family seems completely deserted, but it isn’t long before we discover that something much more sinister is going on.

The town - and it seems, the world - has been overrun by aliens who seem hell-bent on destroying everything in their wake. The difference between the aliens in this film and those in every other film of the same genre is that these aliens are completely blind, and rely only on the sense of hearing to locate and destroy their prey.

And so, the means for survival is to remain absolutely silent at all times at all costs.

Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee (John Krasinski).

Married couple Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee (John Krasinski) have managed to survive for nearly ninety days at the beginning of the film, along with their three children Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward). Their daughter Regan is deaf, so the entire family communicate exclusively with Sign Language.

They also have many safeguards in place, and strategies for living silently, such as walking everywhere barefoot, and laying paths of sand on which to walk, all the way to painting footsteps on the floorboards of their house to identify the sections of floorboards that don’t creak.

After an horrific incident which takes the life of their youngest son, the family are very much on edge for the remainder of the film. Things seem to be going relatively smoothly, until Evelyn falls pregnant again (and giving birth in total silence is not going to be easy, not to mention keeping a newborn baby completely silent).

Beau (Cade Woodward).

The screenplay, by Bryan Woods & Scott Beck and director John Krasinski, is, as you would imagine, incredibly clever. Every detail has been meticulously crafted, and every pitfall and difficulty reasoned out. Seeing how this family manage to survive day to day while not making a sound is incredibly riveting, and the film is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat from the opening sequence all the way through to its remarkably moving conclusion.

Each character has more than their fair share of conflicts, both internal and external, and each also has their own distinct personality and approaches.

The score, composed by Marco Beltrami - what little there is of it - is absolutely superb. It is never complex or complicated, and the film is most definitely not overscored at any point. There is not a lot of music in the film, indeed the majority of the film’s soundtrack is completely silent, which only adds to the tension and suspense.

Regan (Millicent Simmonds).

Charlotte Bruus Christensen’s cinematography is up there with the best I have seen in recent times. Significant chunks of the film take place in near-total darkness, with light, dark, shadow and contrast all used brilliantly to add to the overall feel of the film. Camera angles and framing are used to their full potential to also bring about an overarching sense of unease and dread.

The performances of the cast are - without exception - spectacular. Krasinski and Blunt - who are also married in real life - both shine in their respective roles. The chemistry and connection between them is present in each and every moment. Simmonds - also hearing-impaired in real life - and Jupe are also brilliant in their roles, and have an ability that is far beyond their years.

Director John Krasinski has made a truly innovative film here, in which I notice different things every time I watch it. With most of the film taking place in complete silence, one cannot help but be glued to the screen for the duration. If you haven’t seen it yet, you definitely need to avail yourself of the opportunity as soon as possible.

9 out of 10.