Blunt is great in this unique and tension-riddled horror

Rating: 7/10 (6 April 2018)

Who would've thought a horror/thriller that takes place almost entirely with silence as its key weapon of fear and tension would become one of 2018's most talked about and likely most well-regarded horror releases?
Jon Krasinski's high-concept and well-executed A Quiet Place sees the one time The Office employee take the next step in his directional career with the help of his off-screen wife and always impressive actor Emily Blunt, in a film that is a highly unique experience in many ways and one that makes a trip to the movies an experience within itself thanks to the films nature and execution that will have many taking slow and considered breaths when watching to ensure not too much noise is made.
Set in 2021 where the world has seemingly been ravaged by an alien race of monsters that hunt entirely through sound and focussing its attention on the Abbott family of Krasinski's father Lee, Emily Blunt's pregnant yet determined Evelyn, Millicent Simmons deaf teenager Regan and Noah Jupe's young Marcus as they look to survive on their rural property, A Quiet Place is in many ways a quiet and considered film that is all at once a nail biting thriller, a tension riddled horror and a family drama that masks rather familiar and predictable story tropes and scenarios around its fresh and intriguing central premise.
It's a well shot film and the production values are of the highest order, from visual effects, cinematography and importantly sound design choices, Krasinski and his team have worked with a relatively low-budget to create a polished and proficient 90 minute ride.
A Quiet Place is also another fine example of Blunt's ability to command the screen and her turn as Evelyn is one of her very best. Displaying a raft of emotions and fears through merely looks and expressions, Blunt delivers a great performance for her directing hubby in what's a role that's likely to go down as one of the all-time greats of female heroines in the genre.
While A Quiet Place does a lot right, there's also an inescapable feeling that there are reliance's on a few to many pitfalls of the genre with some character decisions and implausibility's of scenarios hard to overcome (how can racoons be alive for 400 plus days when they make consistent noise or how did the Abbott's manage to build such a fully-functioning farm considering the circumstances) and while they are relatively small things when weighed up against the good, they are still stumbling blocks to A Quiet Place's quest for greatness.
It's also arguable that A Quiet Place begins to lose its chill and thrill aspects as the runtime wears on and while there are ample situations that create unease and shock, the film isn't all that "scary" and once we catch a few good glimpses of the foreign beings, a lot of the initial intrigue and suspense gives way to a more run of the mill experience.
Final Say -
Filled with some standout moments, a great Blunt turn and a highly original concept, A Quiet Place is a film that on paper shouldn't work but does here thanks to Krasinski and his team and while its far from perfect, if you're looking for a fantastic cinematic experience that's best enjoyed in a packed house, A Quiet Place is the place to be.
3 Â½ noisy racoons out of 5