In 2016, Fede Alvarez directed and co-wrote one of the most terrifying horror movies in recent history, “Don’t Breathe,” an unexpected hit for many as this went beyond the usual formulaic scary movies. This year, John Krasinski may have done the same thing with “A Quiet Place”.
It was 2020 and the Abotts live in total silence and total terror.
The family of four navigates through the deserted community, trying to survive the day-to-day struggles of post-apocalyptic America and trying to find some semblance of normalcy.
Engulfed in fear, the family is forced to live in total silence as unknown creatures lurk around, ready to attack anything that makes even the slightest sound.
The opening scene sets the mood for the entire film: silent and terrifying. There were no speaking lines for most of the film’s entirety. With every movement, muffled gasps, and look of terror in the characters’ eyes, everyone in the audience seemed to be holding their breaths.
It was that scary.
“Don’t Breathe” was the last horror story that literally stopped me from breathing or making a noise. I held my breath during the opening scene of “A Quiet Place”.
I guess it would be safe to say that almost everyone watching were also trying hard not to make a noise.
Beneath the monster-with-bionic-ears storyline, the movie was about family. It depicted how tight family bonds can sustain anyone in the middle of any circumstance, no matter how impossible things may seem.
Krasinski and Emily Blunt (Mrs. Abott) were doing everything they can to protect their kids. Their wits and cunning were put to the test and you’d be amazed at how they managed to survive without making any sound.
Performance-wise, the ensemble was impressive. Blunt, however, was a standout. Her acting chops were really put to the test and they passed with flying colors.
Full of tight shots, you can see every shift in emotion on Blunt’s face. She clearly didn’t need dialogue to tell her story. But there was one scene that would, in my opinion, be perfect for an Oscar clip.
Effectively telling a story with the aide of dialogue can be challenging in itself so imagine how daunting it would be to do it without much speaking lines.
Years ago, Joss Whedon impeccably wrote and directed an episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer that didn’t have a lot of speaking lines. It was scary as hell and was a critical success. It was even nominated for an Emmy for Best Writing (how ironic, right?).
Krasinski and his co-writers were able to accomplish the same feat. I loved how this film didn’t rely on dialogue to tell us a story and terrify us. That’s very indicative of a master storyteller.
“A Quiet Place” opens nationwide on April 11 2018.
Director: John Krasinski
Writers: John Krasinski, Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods
Cast: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe
Photo credits: United International Pictures
