Movie Review: In “A Quiet Place,” silence is golden

Movie Review: “A Quiet Place” (PG-13)

“A Quiet Place” has been building a steady stream of buzz as of late, and upon seeing it, it’s pretty easy to see why. With a simple yet very effective premise that finds its primary characters living in a world where being noisy will get you killed, this honed in sci-fi-tinged family drama benefits from outstanding acting, expert sound and creature design, a strong Marco Beltrami score, and beautifully structured set pieces that pulse with the kind of tension and suspense that would make the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg proud.

No real exposition here. “A Quiet Place” throws us smack dab into a world under attack by otherworldly creatures that zero in on their prey by way of sound. We are given hints as to what make these creatures tick throughout the picture, but for the most part, we don’t know much about them or where they came from. No matter, though, because “A Quiet Place” is really about the tight-knit family trying to survive in a world virtually gone to hell. The family in question consists of Lee Abbott (John Krasinski), his wife Evelyn (Emily Blunt), and their three children — Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe), and Beau (Cade Woodward).

Ultimately, The Abbott family is given what appears to be a slight advantage due to the fact that eldest child, Regan, is hearing impaired (intriguing side note: the gifted Simmonds is deaf in real life), and as an end result, this family is well versed in sign language. Furthermore, it’s clear that the art of silence is something that they understand. Of course, part of the Abbott family’s said advantage has to be taken away upon the earth-shattering revelation that Evelyn and Lee are expecting a baby, a plot development that certainly ratchets up the tension in “A Quiet Place.”

“A Quiet Place” was directed by John Krasinski, and nothing “The Office” co-star has made up until this point (including directorial efforts “The Hollars” and “Brief Interviews With Hideous Men”) would necessarily lead one to believe that he had this kind of a film in his arsenal. But here we are, and as it turns out, he appears perfectly at home in this particular genre. This isn’t to say there aren’t missteps along the way.

Despite what you may have heard, “A Quiet Place” isn’t void of characters making dumb decisions. No, I’m not referring to the idea that the couple at the heart of this picture are prepared to bring a crying baby into a place that requires silence in order to survive. This particular plot device is more of a fitting metaphor and puts a poignant spin on the “Why would you want to bring a child into this crappy world?” analogy. It’s other aspects of “A Quiet Place” that may really have you scratching your head. Like why not relocate to a more sensible area? Why not soundproof the whole house like you did with the bunker? Why not get rid of everything on site that could potentially make loud noises? Furthermore, one might question why the Abbotts wouldn’t be more aware of their surroundings and pay more attention during the positively gut wrenching opening moments of this movie.

Those things aside, there’s something to be said about a genre film that’s so satisfying and so well constructed that you’re willing to forgive it for its flaws and simply enjoy the ride. “A Quiet Place” is such a film. The tension is so palpable here that you might chew your fingernails off by the time it all comes to a close. Krasinski definitely does an outstanding job with suspense (look no further than a damn nail in the stairway), and he also manages to put together a couple of very intense sequences that pay obvious but very effective homage to “Jurassic Park.”

More effectively, though, Krasinski takes what is presumably a massive worldwide crisis, zooms in, and tells an intimate story of one family dealing with their own specific problems. In that regard, there are parts of “A Quiet Place” that play a bit like M. Night Shyamalan’s scaled-down alien invasion movie “Signs.” As was the case with that picture, “A Quiet Place” is a film about survival, guilt, parenting, and communication.

The performances here are universally great with Krasinski, Blunt, Simmonds, and Jupe conveying a wide range of emotions through facial expressions and body language alone. There is dialogue, but it’s minimal, and quite honestly, the silence in this picture takes the proceedings to a whole other level.

“A Quiet Place” clocks in at a brisk 90 minutes. It’s concise and to the point. Nothing feels belabored, particularly the final showdown. That said, a potentially emotional moment in the final act isn’t quite as powerful as it could have been because it all happens a little too fast. Had there been a tad more development and patience, that might have made all the difference. Still, as an exercise in tension building, alien-invasion terror, and the strength that comes with a family sticking together in a time of crisis, this movie delivers the goods. Word to the wise though: Avoid eating snacks during this one, because “A Quiet Place” is so darn quiet that the sound of chewing is likely to distract the viewers around you.

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