A Sense of Place

This past weekend, I went to see the buzzed-about new horror movie A Quiet Place. Perhaps buoyed by the unlikelihood of such a film being directed by, co-written by, and co-starring the normally comedic John Krasinski, the movie arrived to critical praise. Having missed the chance to see the last rapturously received horror film in theaters (Get Out), I was determined not to fall behind the curve this time.

For those who've missed the trailer, A Quiet Place is set in the near future, in a post-apocalyptic world where monstrous creatures have overrun the planet. Unspeakably brutal, but also completely blind, the creatures hunt purely by sound. To live in this world is to live in silence. Make one noise, and a violent death will come swiftly. The movie follows one couple trying to keep their children safe.

Some critics have proclaimed this the next Get Out, vastly overstating matters. Others have likened it to Don't Breathe, closer to the mark, but perhaps understating things. All of these people seem to be seizing on the fact that A Quiet Place is the latest horror film to feature characters not normally given the spotlight in horror -- in this case, the deaf girl who is oldest child in this movie's family. (That said, this isn't entirely novel; Hush also features a deaf protagonist, but it isn't as scary and feels far more exploitative.)

The truth is, the movie this most reminds me of is Signs -- the M. Night Shyamalan film that depending on who you ask either began the rapid decline of his career or was his last decent effort before that. Both films follow a family dealing with loss in the midst of the horror, and are very much about trying to carry on after tragedy. There are more specific similarities that I can't point to without giving away key moments. Suffice it to say that if you're a fan of Signs, you likely won't think this movie is as good, while if you're a detractor, you'll probably find A Quiet Place much more to your liking.

For certain, A Quiet Place is much more a horror film, full of tension and scares to satisfy that genre's typical audience. The gimmick of silence plays quite well on the big screen, serving to amplify what few noises the crowd might dare make. You get jump scares, drawn out scenes of tension, and clever set pieces built around the central premise -- and all generally without the characters being unrealistically stupid to facilitate the narrative.

It's certainly an odd film, performance-wise, one with virtually no dialogue, and with so many of the usual tools for conveying emotion stripped away. Emily Blunt anchors the piece, playing opposite her real-life husband John Krasinski. Though both are great, the key to whole thing working at all are the solid performances from the child actors, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe. (Simmonds is actually deaf, one bit of realism the movie doesn't have to try to manufacture.)

The movie surprises in some moments, but not over the long haul -- and that is my main reservation about it. The thrills along the ride were often great, but that ride came to exactly the end I expected. It entertained me, but didn't blow me away.

I'd give A Quiet Place a solid B. If it seems like your thing, I'd certainly recommend going to see it while it's in theaters -- you may never have another experience at the movies where you're so aware of any noise around you (and find that this actually adds to the experience). Even so, I'd be surprised if this ended up on my Top 10 List by the end of the year.