High-concept Horror is a bit of a thing now. When film studios are asked what they are looking for in Horror, the answer is, invariably; “Something no one has ever even thought of before.” There are a lot of such ideas floating around Hollywood these days, and in 2016, screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods managed to get some interest in their high-concept Horror premise. That same year, when actor John Krasinski was first presented with idea of acting in their film, his response was that he does not “do Horror.” When pitched the concept however, he so fell in love with the idea, he signed on not only to star, but to write and direct as well. Two years later, the film saw its premiere at the South by Southwest film festival and enjoyed a successful run in theaters with critics and audiences alike. That film was A QUIET PLACE.
A QUIET PLACE is set in a near-future, post-apocalyptic Earth in which the human population has been decimated by a mysterious race of ruthless and indestructible hunter creatures. The creatures are blind and anosmic, so they hunt entirely by sound. The film tells the story of the Abbott family, who have learned to survive by remaining absolutely quiet. After a scavenging errand ends in disaster, father Lee Abbott (John Krasinski) and his eldest child Regan (Millicent Simmonds) become estranged as the family works through both grief and preparations for the arrival of a new baby. While Lee and his son, Marcus (Noah Jupe), are off checking traps by the river, the mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt) drops and shatters a picture frame, the noise from which attracts a creature. To make matters worse, she has started to go into labor. The family must then muster all of their will, resourcefulness, and instinct to survive the night.
It is easy to see why A QUIET PLACE was such a success. The film is extremely well acted, John Krasinski’s direction is assured and very well paced, and the CG on the creatures is nearly flawless. Chartlotte Bruus Christensen’s photography is a unique blend of post-apocalyptic and classic Americana. Sound designer Brandon Jones builds a soundscape out of ambient sound and silence – a real challenge for any sound professional. Marco Betrami contributes a score that manages to guide our emotions without stomping on the silence that is crucial to the effectiveness of the film – a real challenge for any composer. The artistry of this movie is simply terrific, and it makes for a satisfying, and very frightening film.
A QUIET PLACE has an Achilles Heel that prevents it from being a complete Horror experience, however. While John Krasinski can certainly “do Horror” as an actor and director, his script betrays a decided lack of respect for the standards that Horror audiences expect from the writing. The concept of suspension of disbelief is embraced by all filmgoers, and none more so than Horror fans, but the concept has its limits. We will believe in ghosts for a while, if we are watching a ghost story, and we will accept characters doing some illogical or “stupid” things in order to move the story along. The script for A QUIET PLACE suffers from an almost constant barrage of plot holes, ill logic, and questionable decisions from its characters. This would be less of an issue if these problems were only obvious upon reflection, but they are so prevalent they distract during the actual, initial viewing of the film. The performances and direction are at such a high quality that it almost makes up for it, but in the end, the script mars what is otherwise an exquisite Horror film.
For all of the issues one might have with the writing, in the end, A QUIET PLACE is a tense, frightening, and moving experience. It is high-concept Horror that is rooted in human emotion and our basest human fears. It is impossible to not respect the ambition required to pull this concept off. A QUIET PLACE is an excellent film to turn to if you want something a little different in your scares for the night.
A QUIET PLACE fun facts – Shot in only 36 days.
John Kasinski performed the motion capture for the creature in several scenes.
The filmmakers hired local New York farmers to grow the corn seen in the film. Twenty tons were purchased.
The original screenplay had only one line of dialogue.
Lee- “I love you. I have always loved you.”
Regan - “It won’t work. It never works.”
Evelyn – “Who are we if we can’t protect them? We have to protect them.”
Marcus – “He’ll come for us.”
Regan – “He’ll come for you.”