Relentless and unforgiving

Rating: 9/10 (3 May 2018)

This is a very novel, and very good take on the "I am legend" style movie.
The characters have to be silent as the creatures preying on them are ultra-sensitive to hearing, so most of the movie plays out in silence with them using sign language to communicate (fortunately sub-titled for all of us who don't know sign language!).
It's a nice touch, and really makes you feel the tension. There are in fact frequent moments in the movie that will have you at the edge of the seat, if not jumping out of it whenever something happens to startle you (which is often).
The pace never lets up and the movie never lets you feel like any of the characters are in a "safe" place, as the moment you think a "problem" is over, where other movies would show the characters rebuilding and relaxing, in this one the next thing goes wrong nearly straight away.
After the end of the movie quite a few people in the theatre nervously laughed as a way of releasing the tension that had built up throughout the movie, it was that relentless.
Also without spoilers, right at the start the movie does something harrowing that let's you know that certain "conventions" of these types of movies won't apply, so you can't predict how the story will unfold, which makes the whole thing all the more suspenseful.
Emily Blunt is of course as good as ever, and all the other actors, including the children, pull their weight well.
Not for the faint of heart, but a Grade A horror movie/ thriller.