A Quiet Place (2018) – John Krasinski

John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place was a thoroughly entertaining film. Usually I avoid horror films, but the trailers for A Quiet Place intrigued me, and people who had seen the film were raving about it, which was a strong enough incentive for me to see it. Luckily, I found that whilst it can be labelled a horror movie, it fits nicely, if not more so, into the genre of drama, as it breaks down the psychological workings in a family dynamic during a traumatic and horrifying situation.

Husband and wife in real life, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt have a genuine connection in the film that adds to the family dynamic and makes the characters more believable, thus drawing the audience in all the more. The relationships between all of the characters were heartfelt and feelings were portrayed well through facial expressions and body language, as speech was sparse.

The way in which sound was utilised in the movie added to the suspense. The lack of talking and minimalist dialogue that did occur, through sign language, made communication more impactful and helped set the tone for the film. The fact that the daughter Regan Abbott (Millicent Simmonds) was played by a deaf actress, as the character was deaf in the script, (by Bryan Woods, Scott Beck and Krasinski), makes the acting completely honest and also allows the audience to take on her perspective. In the shots that are from her perspective the sound is taken out, and this adds depth to the film overall as it provides narration that is more complete, and lets the audience gain Regan’s outlook, which is pivotal in evoking emotion in the film.

The suspense in the film keeps you on the edge of your seat, and there are numerous occasions in which the tension is at its height. The film is a roller-coaster in regards to the tension and while there are moments of calmness, the tension is very prevalent, and towards the end of the film, it never lets up.

There were a few instances in which a character’s behaviour and emotions felt unjustified, irrational and slightly exaggerated for the advancement of the plot. Nonetheless, these instances were appropriate when considering the setting of the film and the context, as well as the new lives the characters lead, in which it is not as easy for them to communicate with each other and state how they feel.

Even if horror is not your favourite genre, Krasinski’s A Quiet Place is an intense film that is composed in a refreshingly innovative way. There are certain plot points that are not revealed to the audience, and the film benefits from not trying to explain or visualise the full catastrophe, but instead give us an insight into the period after said event, in which have had to completely modify and adapt their lives, in order to survive.