Movie with Abe: A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place
Directed by John Krasinski
Released April 6, 2018

Sound is integral to the human experience. Its most popular use is in conversation, and many other actions and movements produce sounxpress d. It is so commonplace that most are unaware of its presence and would be hard-pressed to limit it. While parents may try hard not to wake a baby that has fallen asleep or someone might whisper to prevent disturbing others around them, the notion of operating in total silence is almost unfathomable. Yet when faced with the need to survive, there are those who will adapt and cut out one facet of their lives to ensure their continued existence.

Lee (John Krasinski) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) have lived through an apocalyptic event that has given rise to monsters who charge and kill whenever they hear anything. After the tragic death of their youngest son, Lee and Evelyn try desperately to protect their daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), who is deaf, and their son Marcus (Noah Jupe). Evelyn’s pregnancy creates a new danger, and Lee does everything he can to find ways for his family to live as cautiously – and silently – as possible and to prepare for the worst should the inevitable accidental noise be heard by the monsters lurking all too near.

This is not a conventional horror film, though admittedly this reviewer tries to steer clear of anything that fits that genre and is not as well-versed as others in its usual content. Instead of emphasizing sudden images designed to make audiences jump, this film delves into the constant terror created by the notion that one sound could prove fatal. The effect that it has on all four members of this family is made explicitly clear by the way in which they communicate using sign language and express tremendous relief whenever they experience close calls.

This film has earned tremendous praise from critics and audiences alike. Krasinski serves as director and star, marking his breakthrough as a filmmaker. His real-life wife Blunt has earned accolades for her performance, imbuing her character with extraordinary willpower and strength. Talented child actors Simmonds and Jupe, who starred in “Wonderstruck” and “Wonder,” respectively, are well-utilized, and promising careers certainly lie ahead for them. Watching the film is a breathless, tense exercise, one that offers considerable stress and moderate satisfaction. As a post-apocalyptic survival thriller, however, this film is not nearly as inventive or innovative as the buzz surrounding it would suggest.

B