Quiet Dignity

Rating: 9/10 (6 November 2019)

I'm not into horror, especially R-rated slasher films. I'm not into haunted houses. I'll admit it, I'm a wimp when it comes to scary stuff in general. However, there are certain scary movies that I love, and this is one of the best I've ever seen.
It's fair to say A Quiet Place is almost old-fashioned in it's pace and editing. It's deliberately slow and narrowly focused similar to what you would find in Hitchcock films, which I love. The core premise is that there are dangerous creatures who will attack when sound is made, and that sets up sound-based jump scares throughout the film. These kind of jump scares are standard in suspense or horror films, but A Quiet Place uses them very well, and ties them into the overall plot of the film in a meaningful way. And when the film makes sparing use of music, it's beautifully done with a unique score. The acting is also top-notch in this film, especially when you consider the cast could only use body language, facial expressions, and sign language for the most part. Big Tuna did an amazing job directing and starring in this film, as did his wife. There's even a nice little Office nod if you're watching for it.
The film is refreshingly wholesome, especially considering it's genre. I don't think there's a single curse word in the whole film. There is a scene of a family praying together at a dinner table. There is violence of course, but the camera cuts away before anything horribly graphic is revealed. I watched the movie with my wife, and would be perfectly OK with my 12 year old son watching it, even though it is definitely scary and intense.
I don't think this film should ever have a direct sequel. The ending was very powerful, I think it's best left as it is. However, I would definitely love to see more movies like this being made. It sits with films like M. Night's Signs in that rare space of being frightening and suspenseful without involving the occult, the supernatural, or gross R-rated gore.
I'm rating it a 9 out of 10 because the plot does require some suspension of disbelief. Don't go into this movie thinking about the plot too deeply, just enjoy it.