They can't SEE you, but they can HEAR you.

Rating: 9/10 (7 April 2018)

Fear comes in many forms and 'A Quiet Place' is no exception. Horror films typically get the worst reviews, but will critics be kind to a film that may or may not follow the generic monster movie formula?
1. The film takes place in a rural countryside in what seems to be a deserted Earth. Mankind is near extinction as mysterious creatures (with keen ears) hunt and kill anything or anyone that makes a sound. We follow the Abbott family as they live a (literal) life of silence in order to survive on their farm. Personally, horror is not my favorite genre, but when making a horror flick, the simpler the plot, the better the story. This film doesn't cheat the audience, it's simply a story about a family and their fight for survival. There's no major end-goal, explosive action or larger than life plot, and I loved that about this film. The key is to keep things simple, focus on the story, the characters and the suspense and this movies delivered on all of that.
2. I usually wait for Thriller/Horrors to be available on online streaming rather than go to the theater to see, but I made it my business to catch this one on the big screen, and I'm glad I did. What makes 'A Quiet Place' remarkable/memorable, is not just the horror aspect but the characters, situations and performances. There is not one bad performance in this film. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are great as usual, but its the actors who play their kids that impressed me the most. Millicent Simmonds (Regan Abbott) in particular, plays the eldest child who's deaf. Unlike the other characters who speak in the film (at certain points), Simmonds has no dialogue yet delivers an almost Oscar-worthy performance.
3. I was surprised just how much this film resonated with me on an emotional level. I won't spoil anything, but there is a scene between Krasinski and his daughter (Simmonds) during the film's climax that literally broke my heart and had me drowning in my own tears. Since there is very little dialogue in the film and more communication via sigh-language and expressions, that made the emotions that more substantial. To be quite honest, I wasn't that scared of the creatures (when they're finally revealed) rather than their vicious and animalistic capabilities. The opening sequence alone lets you know just how ruthless these mysterious creatures are. I wished however, that there were more practical effects to intensify the already creepy atmosphere.
4. I wasn't a fan of the creature designs since they didn't appear all that menacing. That was honestly my only complaint about the film. This would have been the perfect job for creature effects artists like Stan Winston or Rick Baker to handle. John Krasinski deserves a lot of praise for his direction here. The man handles the camera well, the shots have a sinister beauty to them and the film flows superbly. I was literally on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Never have I been so curious in a horror film constantly waiting to find out what happens next. The film has somewhat of an open-ending for a potential sequel, but its perfect the way it is, so please don't take any liberties Hollywood!
Given the opportunity, I'd definitely go see this again. And just a word of advice, if you live a world with monsters that will kill you the second you make a sound, in no way should you be having a baby when all babies do is make noise!!!