A Quiet Place Review

     A Quiet Place is what I’d categorize as a “gimmick” film. Movies that utilize a novel idea to tell a story. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. In this instance, the gimmick is complete and utter silence. 

     Director John Krasinski, chooses to tell his story with almost no dialogue at all. By setting his film in a world invaded by monsters with a hyper sense of sound, the characters are forced to watch their every move and communicate using only sign language. In that sense, the novel concept of complete silence works, seamlessly blending in with the premise of the film. It’s not there just to be different. Instead, it serves a real purpose.

     That being said, a movie without dialogue sometimes tests your patience. In the moments when it works and the music picks up, it really works, building up indescribable amounts of tension. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case and at times, you find yourself wanting a chance to see the characters converse. In the end though, the acting is so strong that the important ideas and emotions get communicated effectively. Krasinski’s son does an amazing job at displaying feelings of pure terror using only facial expressions. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well and deliver extremely nuanced and noteworthy performances.

     Regardless, the gimmick isn’t what makes A Quiet Place so memorable. What makes it stick with you long after leaving the theatre is what’s at its core. That’s family. At the end of the day, the film is a family drama and because of that, all the struggles and pitfalls the characters experience hold that much more weight. You’re heartbroken by some of the events that unfold on screen. Krasinski succeeds in turning a cool sci-fi horror premise into something with a lot more meaning and emotion than you’d expect.