Baby Driver, Atomic Blonde, Dunkirk. . . three movies over the past year or so that have set a new standard for the way music and sound are used in the context of movies. A Quiet Place continues the recent trend, with its clever use of sound, and the lack thereof, playing an integral role in this very unique horror film.
Perhaps the closest thing to a silent movie since Academy Award Best Picture winner The Artist (2011), John Krasinski co-writes and directs this original story. A post-apocalyptic type tale, yet with all the beauty of nature, aliens have invaded the planet, decimating the population and causing fear and chaos to run rampant in the hearts and minds of the secluded populous that is left – the audience is not provided with a glance as to how all this happened, but rather, enters the tale eighty-nine days after first contact.
Set outside a rural town, the Abbott’s are a family that has adapted. Learning on the fly (from early newspapers and firsthand encounters), they discover that the gigantic aliens, though blind, have out-of-this-world hearing, as well as superlative speed and natural body armour. The family consists of parents Lee (Krasinski) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt), as well as children Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward).
They have developed a solid infrastructure, with a working farm, sand walkways that dampen their footsteps (overhead lighting also adorns these paths – white for when it is safe and red for when things take an ominous turn), several avenues for food (a nearby river, scavenging, corn fields), and radio technology that is used in an attempt to reach out to people around the world.
A struggle for Lee and Evelyn, they attempt to give their children some normalcy in this wholly horrific new world, all while trying to make clear that safety is of the utmost importance (something that can be quite difficult with clumsy, noisy children). Eldest Regan’s main struggle is that she is deaf, something Lee continuously attempts to aid her with (building multiple cochlear implants that have never worked), while Marcus lives in fear, dreading having to branch out and learn the tricks of survival from his father.
With only one other character (and it is a very small part) outside of the cast listed above, the fascinating combination of sound and silence is its own character. The rustle of the corn, the power of a waterfall, the creaking of a floorboard, the rolling of dice, heavy breathing, the rushing power of an oncoming alien, the cocking of a shotgun, a first person sound perspective of Regan. . . each moment brings with it a sense of dread, horror, or safety, depending on the situation. Marco Beltrami also provides a score for the feature, adding some horror touches to build on the numerous sounds heard throughout.
The location also plays an integral part. The sound of a car engine means that you cannot just turn the key and drive, hence, foot power is the only quiet way to move around; thus, the farm and its surroundings are the limits of their life. Like Ridley Scott’s Alien, there is a claustrophobic aspect to the setting, with nowhere to go – fight or limited flight the only two options.
At its heart, this microscopic horror film comes down to family. . . the importance of a strong unit, as well as the struggles of parents in raising children. Fear permeates their lives, as not only must they raise them well, but must also worry that one wrong step may lead to a quick death (protection at all costs). Their own struggles and past issues make the parent/child bond even more difficult, with Regan feeling blamed for a happening in their past – in her mind, every time her father takes her brother on a run rather than her, it is telling of his true feelings (in the deafening silence, he also never tells her that he loves her). Evelyn is also pregnant, bringing a whole new level of preparation and concern for the family (and though this decision may seem like an odd one, it fits into the pained fabric of their past – filling a necessary void in their lives). This cleverly developed dynamic would fit perfectly in a searing drama, and elevates this unique premise another notch.
A breath of fresh air, A Quiet Place is an original film that has thrived at the box office – showing that audiences still flock to see creative and innovative motion pictures. It bodes well for the future, as the success of a Baby Driver or A Quiet Place tells studios that taking these types of cinematic risks are worth it. So, don’t cock it up by missing this modern spectacle, its positive feedback is not to be ignored.