The Genre At Its Absolute Best

Rating: 10/10 (8 April 2018)

To say that the horror genre has been on a high note over the past couple of years would be an understatement. From genre-bending movies like Get Out to turning the terrible Annabelle film around and making a solid sequel, filmmakers have really been able to share their talents throughout this genre. For that reason, A Quiet Place was easily one of my most anticipated films of the years, also due to its fantastic trailers though. Upon leaving the theatre, I had to ponder the fact that I think it may be one of my favorite horror films ever. Yes, that's a bold statement, but everything about this film feels fresh and I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. If you're a fan of the horror genre or just like a solid piece of entertainment, then here's why I would highly recommend A Quiet Place.
John Krasinski broke out as a fan favorite on the small screen in The Office, but ever since, he's resorted to romantic comedies. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance in the film 13 Hours and I was hoping for that to be a wake-up call for him and dive into some serious roles. Happily, that's exactly what has happened. Written and directed by Krasinski, A Quiet Place follows a family who must not make a sound, or they will otherwise likely be killed by creatures that have infested the Earth. The concept of this film alone is one reason to like it, but it's the intricate details that really make this film shine from start to finish.
From the notion of loving your family to the point of planning out their future in the safest way possible, to the element of surprise, there are many thought-provoking aspects to A Quiet Place. Many of the surprising elements that make this movie work as a whole would be considered spoilers, so I will just leave it at that. What I will say is that there are many things presented throughout the film that builds up to a very intense moment, and the way it all came together, frankly had me in tears. When a movie can emotionally move me simply by being well-constructed, then it's an instant winner in my eyes.
The way the filmmakers use sound to move this story along is genius and there are reasons as to why this family makes certain decisions. Everything means something even when you think it may just be a throwaway moment or sequence. At a mere 90 minutes, every second is devoted to either building characters, building tension, or describing certain story points that may have been confusing to certain viewers. As much as I'm praising this film (and I do think this is a nearly perfect movie in every way), no film is perfect.
I found myself scratching my head about a few decisions made by certain characters, as well as the fact that something is present later on in the movie that should be making far more trouble for this family than the way they chose to present it in this movie. With these gripes aside, I must admit that the performances here easily cover up any minor issues I had, due to the fact that I was sucked into every second any of them were on-screen.
In the end, A Quiet Place is a home run for the genre, for Krasinski's career, and for everyone involved. This is definitely a piece of cinema that I will be recommending and talking about for quite some time. From each quiet moment that builds tension, to each exciting moment that had me on the edge of my seat, to the fact that I was brought to tears by the way this film was cut together and how much thought was put into it through the screenplay, I walked out of this movie replaying it over and over again in my head. I loved A Quiet Place and it's going to be difficult for me to find a film this year that will surpass my experience of this particular one. If you couldn't tell from this review, please do yourself a favor and check this one out.