An ecological disaster has occurred. Whether it has affected the entire humanity or just a part of the US—the stage for John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place—is not established. However, we are introduced to a family of five on the 89th day of survival in a post-apocalyptic world—the ruins of a city surrounded by corn fields—communicating in whispers or sign language, wary of making the slightest noise.
The youngest in the family is fascinated with a toy plane, but is discouraged from playing with it. But the child does what he has to do. He switches on the toy while the family is crossing a bridge. In no time, there’s a huge thud—loud enough to scare the living daylights out of you—and the kid is gone.
The catastrophe has led to the rise of skeleton-thin predators with melon-like heads, blind but in possession of advanced hearing capabilities. The Abbott family lives in perpetual fear of being the next target. Lee (John Krasinski) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) have a son Marcus (Noah Jupe), and daughter Megan (Millicent Simmonds) to take care of; they are expecting another child. Megan's inability to hear, it seems, has made it easier for the family to adapt to the silent world—at least they are well-versed in sign language.
But, with Evelyn’s delivery inching closer, new challenges are on the way. How do you deal with the screams caused by the pain of labour, or the cries of a newborn? Lee, already working on a hearing aid for Megan, is devising ways to survive the big day. But an unexpected twist is on the way—one of the best sequences in the film, amplified by Blunt’s fine acting.
Krasinski, who rose to fame by essaying Jim Halpert in the sitcom The Office, surprises with this one—a role that is very different from his public persona. But then, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods—experts of the horror genre—collaborated with him on the script, and that makes a huge difference. Krasinski’s direction is taut, maintaining the drama and suspense throughout.
The creatures act on noise—sounds from a toy plane, a falling photo frame, or any decibels higher than whispers. However, it can't distinguish human sounds from a louder ambient noise—say, whispers near a waterfall. A Quiet Place is edgy, with its thick plot, superb sound design, a narrative that never ceases to be suspenseful, and some really good acting—especially the two kids.
Film: A Quiet Place
Director: John Krasinski
Cast: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt
Rating: 4/5