Monday 9 April 2018

Film: 'A Quiet Place'

In a genre that is very prone to being derivative it is good to see an horror film which plays an original slant for its over-riding characteristic of the enemy 'aliens' viz. although being blind, they possess hyper-sensitive hearing so that the slightest sound will attract their malevolent and fatal attention. 

There is no explanation as to where we are (though that hardly matters - it was shot in New York state) or exactly what the enemy is or where the creatures have come from. The film plonks us right in the middle of seeing a small family of two adults and two children trying to survive by remaining silent - both in moving around and by communicating, where they use sign language. It so happens that their daughter is profoundly deaf so they are all already proficient in that method of 'talking'. (Yes, I know. You've just got to accept it, put it out of your mind, and go along with it). Living in a rural house without nearby neighbours, we have to assume that the rest of the country or, most likely, the entire world has succumbed to these unsavoury beings, or are maybe surviving in dwindling pockets. We don't see an alien creature in complete shot for at least the first half of the film.

The husband and wife are played by real-life marrieds, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, the former also directing this as well as being the story's creator and one of the screenplay writers. Both are very good indeed - more especially Blunt who has to go through agonies, both mental and physical, while maintaining silence, - and she's heavily pregnant to boot! - though I must admit that I did notice that at no time, despite the almost unbearable tension throughout the film, did she appear to break out into a sweat, even with all her exertions and even when one of these monsters is almost within touching distance of her. In addition, there is one incident in which she is injured (it made me wince, and I'm sure I wasn't alone) though she didn't seem to be as incapacitated as I'd have expected considering what happened. 
Mention must also be made of Millicent Simmonds, herself a profoundly deaf young actress, playing the daughter with that same condition.

The film covers only a very few days in the family's tribulations, so, apart from the couple of things which happen to the mother, there is little change in their overall situation. The threat is unchanged. The film is little more than an extended snapshot of the family's predicament during this short time.

Tension all through is maintained at a high pitch, almost wanting to make one scream - and using this technique it's a riveting story, the film coming in at little more than a satisfying hour and a half, and at no point overplaying its hand or outstaying its welcome. 
I thought it was well made and successful in achieving what it wanted to do. I liked it..........7.

10 comments:

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    1. :-O Yes, Mitch - and I suppose she never does a wee or a poo either!

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  2. I liked it too raymondo
    The " I love you " ending was a bit hackneyed but the rest was cracking. The actor playing the son was excellent I thought

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    1. I did indeed read your review at the week-end, JayGee, and added a comment there that I'd be seeing it yesterday - but you get so many comments anyway......

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  3. I wish I could dare to go and see this.

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    1. It'd be sure to keep you, or anyone else, on the edge of ones seat, Rachel, so pity that you can't just go and 'enjoy' - but I do understand.

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    2. I could go and enjoy; it is the being at home here alone that I can't endure afterwards. Thank you Ray.

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  4. Nice to read your review of this. Horror movies are a favorite genre of mine, and it seems hard these days to find one with a new twist, and this one seems to have one. I will have to go see this. I know from the previews alone, they had me on the edge of my chair. And the set ups they have in store for the family in worry they may make noise...like the nail of the step....yikes! If this were real life, this would be impossible to do I would think....and I'm pretty quite if I have to be. Thank you for your recap Raybeard.

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    1. Oh, so you know what the mishap is that Emily B. underwent, M.M. But I can guarantee that you'll still squirm, perhaps even moreso when you can see it going to happen. Aaaaaargh!
      Yes, the different angle was a refreshingly novel take on a horror story - and I also like that we weren't cluttered and distracted with involved explanations of what happened before the story when the film starts. It just gets on with it, and holds your attention without one feeling cheated.
      Btw: When you go, don't sit close to anyone who's chomping on popcorn or whatever. (I myself never eat during a film). You don't want to hear want any extraneous noises in this film above all others!

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