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Amanda Naccarato | TV & Movies
A Quiet Place has been in theatres for two weeks and is still claiming its place at the top of the box office.
The film stars John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe, and is directed by Krasinski.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, A Quiet Place follows a husband (John Krasinski) and wife (Emily Blunt) who will stop at nothing to protect their children (Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe) from what lurks in the shadows.
Unearthly visitors that rely solely on sound have attacked earth, nearly wiping out the entire human race. Those who did survive must abide by one simple rule — always remain quiet.
As the family strives to live in silence, each day that passes becomes increasingly difficult and the audience quickly becomes aware of the dangers of making a sound.
This suspenseful film leaves you quite literally on the edge of your seat, restlessly awaiting the next noise that will halt the quiet.
Silence says so much
The use of silence in A Quiet Place creates this eerie atmosphere where even the slightest noise will attract these terrifying creatures.
The family has so efficiently adapted to silence, relying almost exclusively on sign language to communicate.
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But that's not all. The film uses an array of other clever means to communicate with both each other and the audience. This includes newspaper clippings and the characters’ own notes, both of which provide critical insight that helps develop suspense and further the storyline.
What's abundantly clear throughout the course of the movie is that the silence in this film communicates so much, far more than dialogue ever could. In fact, the viewer is often put in the position of sitting in complete silence out of mere fear to make even a single noise while watching.
It is so much more than a horror film
John Krasinski, most known for playing Jim Halpert on The Office, co-wrote, directed and starred in the film. Although John Krasinski has directed many episodes of The Office, this is the first feature-length horror film that he has directed on his own.
And to no surprise, Krasinski blew this film out of the park. The cinematography is outstanding, and his ability to tell this story so effectively without the use of dialogue was incredible.
Every shot is packed with subtle cues that help establish the apocalyptic setting, the tight-knit bond of this family and the uncomfortable reality of constantly staying silent.
Although this film falls into the horror genre, it is so much more than that. This is truly a film about family and how far parents will go to protect their children.
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Originally Krasinski’s real-life wife, Emily Blunt, had suggested other actresses play the role of Krasinski’s wife in this film. But after reading the script, she knew she had to play the role. Along with learning lines, the whole cast learned sign language for this film, which made the movie that much more authentic.
Millicent Simmonds, the actress who plays Krasinski and Blunt’s daughter, is a deaf actress. And it is so refreshing to see an actor with hearing loss get the part and deliver an outstanding performance that is so pure and raw.
Krasinski reveals he had no second thought when casting Simmonds. “It was non-negotiable for me to cast a deaf actress,” says Krasinski in an interview with Vanity Fair.
“I needed a guide. I needed someone to walk me through what it was like to be the only deaf one in a hearing family,” he explains.
Krasinski went on to praise Simmonds saying, “she was so amazing to have on set.”
Simmonds' role provides a truly unique angle in the film, especially through the use of minimal sound that allows the audience to experience this horrifying world from her silent perspective.
This film, alongside others that made it big this year (including Guillermo Del Toro’s The Shape of Water which was filmed in Toronto and won Best Picture at the Oscars!), were monumental in paving the way for diversity and working to include a community that is often left out of Hollywood pictures.
Overall, the film is without a doubt worth the watch. It is not a typical horror film, and arguably, that's what makes this movie special.
Our Rating:
9 out of 10!
Watch the Trailer Below, and check out Cineplex.com for showtimes!