Directed by John Krasinski
Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. April 9, 2018 5:00 PM
With "A Quiet Place", John Krasinski's latest turn behind the camera is a well-crafted sci-fi horror thriller that is intense, terrifying and unexpectedly emotional. It focuses on a family trying to stay alive in a postapocalyptic world by remaining as quiet as possible otherwise they will fall victim to a deadly force triggered by any sound they might make. The actor turned film maker has shifted the familiar dead body countdown of the genre to place the emphasis on the relentless determination of devoted and loving parents trying to protect their children from harm at any cost. This helps make this gripping film standout by connecting us with heartfelt characters that we actually want to see survive through this harrowing ordeal.
There is no backstory given but we do know that most of mankind has been wiped out by alien life-forms; giant, fast-moving, blind creatures that come out of nowhere to attack any sudden loud noise. They do not commit this act for protection nor food but to simply destroy the source of the sound.
One of the few survivors is the resourceful, Lee Abbott, played by Mr. Krasinski, along with his family; Lee's wife, Evelyn (Emily Blunt, the director's real-life spouse) and their two children, son, Marcus (Noah Jupe) and daughter, Regan (Millicent Simmonds) who is deaf and the family's ability to use sign-language has certainly come in handy. Evelyn is expecting a child and while this should be a time of great happiness, this impending arrival has created a new set of challenges and will require the parents to be creative in order to protect their newborn.
There is a sadness that hovers over the Abbotts which goes beyond the difficult situation they are currently facing. There was a younger son, Beau (Cade Woodward) who was taken down by one of the aliens for simply wanting to be a child and none of them, not surprisingly, have fully recovered from this tragedy.
As they are no longer able to behave or interact in a natural way, the family's main form of communication is through signing and signaling. Simple conversations or even the spontaneous joy of laughter are no longer possible. While they must remain constantly close together for survival, the feeling of frustration and isolation is unavoidable as they can never properly express themselves. This is most certainly something Regan has felt in the world long before the invasion.
The spec script by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods was inspired by the silent movies they watched as college students and by the vast, isolated farmlands in their home state of Iowa. When Krasinski was offered the opportunity to direct his third feature (following an adaption of David Foster Wallace's "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" and the family dramedy, "The Hollars"), he gave the screenplay a polish before asking his wife to read and offer feedback. The British actress not only loved the script but also wanted a part in the project.
As a director, Krasinski finds the right balance of capturing all of the complex emotional anxieties of a family in crisis while never losing sight to make sure there are plenty of truly frightening moments that the genre demands. And with little spoken dialogue to move the story along, its up to the bold visuals by Charlotte Brus Christensen and an eerie, dramatic score by Marco Beltrami which is used sparingly but effectively.
The one thing you can count on when an actor becomes a director is that they will make sure the performances are exceptional. And Mr Krasinski has achieved this with his small, finely-tuned cast. Since her breakout as the harried assistant in "The Devil Wears Prada", Ms Blunt has impressed with many memorable roles as tough, strong-willed yet vulnerable women in such films as "Edge of Tomorrow", "the Girl On The Train" and "Sicario". Just watch her in one of the film's most unnerving sequences when Evelyn has to remain as quiet as possible despite going in to labor and having stepped directly on to an upended nail, all while trying to avoid the creature roaming through the house in search of a noise. You can't take your eyes off of her. The young actors are also wonderful with Ms Simmonds, who is actually deaf and made a notable film debut last year in Todd Haynes', "Wonderstruck", delivering a fierce intensity to her role.
The film doesn't deliver a definitive conclusion yet "A Quiet Place" still offers some optimism and hope. Mr. Krasinski should be proud for crafting a remarkably inventive, scary thriller that also manages to be a thoughtful and moving experience.
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