a review of 寂静之地

Impeccably crafted high-concept horror. With a premise like this sound is everything. If Krasinski and crew had messed up even once on this front it is very likely that the whole movie would have come crumbling down. Everything is in deft hands though. Something you can see in the little touches. Like how when the attention is on any member of the Abbott other than their deaf daughter you can hear the background noises like wind. When she is the focus it is complete and utter silence. A tiny thing, but it's the small stuff in A Quiet Place that tends to make the biggest impressions. The attention to detail in every aspect of how these characters live their lives is incredible. So much thought and care went into creating this world. It genuinely portrays the Abbotts as intelligent, resourceful people. When things inevitably begin to go downhill for the family, it's not because one of them slipped up, broke the rules, or did something outright stupid. It's a random, totally natural and faultless event that sends danger to their doorstep. They never slip up afterwards either. Every second is a careful, calculated reaction to the downward spiral their night has become. It is so refreshing to watch something where everyone onscreen is doing their best to stay on top of things. Even the kids show a ton of restraint. I had no idea I would be watching something so emotional when I put this on. The family drama isn't exactly original, but the themes of parenthood of familial love are still powerful. We don't really see these kinds of morals anymore outside of animated kid flicks. Nice to see a movie aimed at adults have that kind of message in an era where it seems that more homes are being torn apart from the inside than ever before. Loving your neighbor is great guys, but we should really stop letting that get in the way of loving those we sit around the table with every night. A lack of noise and minimalistic dialog are used to create an commendably oppressive atmosphere that is adept a pulling the audience into being just as quiet as those they are watching onscreen. The amount of hold your breath moments may cause you to pop a lung and there's a surprising tearjerker that capitalizes naturally on all that emotional buildup in a way that doesn't feel like a cheap shot. There is a letdown though and unfortunately it's a pretty big one. While not enough to ruin the movie, the weak attempts at getting a jolt from the audience are far more numerous than the actually effective scenes of slow, rising terror. As uniquely setup by the film's wonderful use of silence they may be, a predictable jump scare is still a predictable jump scare. The use of your typical, unnaturally perfect movie baby is also noticeable. Only crying when the set-piece calls for it. A shotgun is fired in the same room as the infant at one point and there's not a peep out of it. A minor blunder in an otherwise highly believable sequence of events. A wonderful concept does not go wasted in this immaculately thought out and lovingly made allegory for parenthood. It establishes a sense of danger early on with an unforgettable opening catastrophe that keeps things suspenseful from that point forward. Generic scare tactics aside, this is one of the greats of modern horror and I hope this isn't Krasinski's only foray into the genre.