4 stars out of 5
I’d seen the trailer, but didn’t really pay attention to this movie until two different friends mentioned that it looked good. On Saturday, the Yankees’ 1:10 pm away game was rained out, my Moviepass card had finally arrived, and A Quiet Place was playing at my local theater. If I caught the 1:30 showing, I’d be out in time to hear most of Todd-O-Phonic Todd’s radio broadcast.
I’m not going to say a lot about this film. If you like scary, just go see it, trust me. The poster sums things up nicely: If they hear you, they hunt you. Thus it’s… a quiet place.
Now, I haven’t rushed out to see other John Krasinski movies. He’s a, you know, TV guy, and frankly had grown tiresome on The Office. But I have to say, he definitely stepped up by marrying Emily Blunt and by co-writing, directing, and co-starring in this film. His bearded face and eyes are necessarily very expressive as he conveys simple messages to his family. (They also employ sign language.) Blunt, as the wife and mother, handles the lion’s share of moods and emotions: nurturing, mournful, brave-facing, loving. And fear. Big-time fear. Among the kids, newcomer Millicent Simmonds is a standout; really impressive and believable as the oldest sibling, ready for some independence — but this is no time nor place for independence. (I really need to see Wonderstruck, her only other film.)
Did I mention that the movie is scary? Like, ridiculously so. There is a prolonged sequence that prompted me to literally gasp — I had my hands over my open mouth for a long stretch. There is so much silence, that occasional bits of sound are utilized very effectively. Ooh this is a good movie.
Jack Silbert, curator