A Dark SF/Horror Masterpiece.

Rating: 9/10 (6 April 2018)

A Quiet Place: Being quiet is a necessity not an option. AQP opens in a post-apocalypse deserted village, a family are (silently) foraging for medical and electrical supplies. They communicate via sign language. Father, Leo (John Krasinski) seeks out radio components, mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt) locates medicine for sickly son Marcus (Noah Jupe), sister Regan (Millicent Simmonds) minds toddler Beau (Cade Woodward). But the toddler manages to hide a battery operated toy and after the family leave the store he turns it on. An arachnid creature with an Alien style head swiftly appears and carries the boy off.
Yes, the Earth has been invaded by extraterrestrials who want to serve humanity - for lunch. The creatures are blind and use sound to locate their victims. It is not clear if they are more intelligent than Earthly predators such as lions or cheetahs, they might be sentient or a hunting pack used by masters. Old newspaper front pages give warnings to remain quiet and head underground suggesting an interim period before civilisation collapsed. Families appear to survive on isolated farms, who knows what is happening in the cities
A year after losing Beau, life continues for the family at their farmhouse, the quietest pathways are used outside, footprints are painted indoors so that creaks may be avoided. When a lamp is knocked over the family wait in terror as they hear noises on the roof but it just turns out to be raccoons. Leo is attempting to contact other survivors through morse code on a radio and making a better cochlear aid for Regan who is deaf and at risk of not hearing the aliens approaching. Evelyn is pregnant and the family prepare a soundproof room for the impending birth. The family appears to be traditional with Leo teaching survival skills to a reluctant Marcus and leaving Regan at home with her mother but as the film develops Evelyn's inner Emily Blunt emerges and Rgan shows that she is capable of fighting the creatures.
This is a Horror Film which is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. You gradually see more of the hippos sized predators as they snatch humans and dismember eat them. There are many shocks which will have you jumping out of your seats or cowering. A disturbing scene of an old man, stricken by existential despair after his wife has been killed shouts so that the aliens will also find him. This is very much John Krasinski's film, he directs, co-writes and stars but Blunt also puts in a strong performance. Millicent Simmonds, who shines as Regan is actually deaf also starred in Wonderstruck and is very much a rising star. 9/10.