By HOWARD McQUITTER II
oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com
howardmcquitter68@gmail.com
“A Quiet Place”
(2018) Drama/Horror/ Thriller
Paramount Pictures
5/5 Stars
Silence is the key to survival in a post-apocalyptic world where carnivorous creatures have caused worldwide panic. The movie never tells you how the creatures came to be; whether from outer space (like in the original sci-fi movie “The War of The Worlds” by Byron Haskin in 1953) or some biological mishap such as testing too many nuclear bombs or radically changing the environment with over-industrialization. “A Quiet Place” is just that, quiet. The movie focuses on one family, the Abbotts: Lee (John Krasinski), Evelyn (Emily Blunt), Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward) who live in an abandoned farm, they fixed up, using it as a safe haven from the creatures who are blind but respond quickly to sound.
The movie opens up on Day 89, the family is seeking medical supplies in an abandoned pharmacy in silence, speaking only in sign language. Every move must be noiseless or they will arouse the creatures which can prove deadly.
Nothing is normal; discipline is mandatory.
At home the children are home schooled, newspapers are plastered on the walls as soundproofing, and a series of lights are scattered around the farm with red signaling danger. Even when the family plays monopoly they roll the dice on a blanket. Adding to the drama, Evelyn is pregnant in a place with only a minimal amount of medical supplies. Like what fathers should be, Lee (John Krasinski) goes beyond the call of duty to provide and protect his family from the creatures too close for comfort. Yet again, maybe Regan has the secret nobody else has in dealing with the awful scourge amongst them.
Director John Krasinski, along with co- writers Bryan Woods and Scott Beck, brilliantly use tone, timing and atmosphere for “A Quiet Place”. “A Quiet Place” stands heads and shoulders above most horror movies in the last two decades or so. Krasinski (also an actor in the movie) creates pure terror, tension, and is enough to grab your seat. Director: John Krasinski. Cast: John Krasinski (Lee), Emily Blunt (Evelyn), Millicent Simmonds (Regan), Noah Jupe (Marcus) and Cade Woodward (Beau). Running time: 90 minutes.
