At The Movies...."A Quiet Place"

The movie "A Quiet Place" is currently generating lots and lots of buzz, so we took it in this afternoon.  It has been described as a Sci-fi/Horror/Suspense film, and it is all of that, but I would put the greatest emphasis on the "Suspense" part of the description.

The movie begins in the near future, and something bad has happened to Planet Earth. In an almost post-apocalyptic, setting, humans are being preyed upon by creatures that react to human sounds and noises.  As a result, everyone needs to remain perfectly silent, and the family around which this story revolves, communicates by using American Sign Language.  There is very little spoken dialog and subtitles are used throughout the movie.

I am not going to give any further details, so as not to even hint at what could become spoilers.  The movie stars John Krasinski and his real life wife Emily Blunt.  Krasinski also directed the film, co-wrote the screenplay, and served as an executive producer.  It is his movie, no question about it, and perhaps the best part of the movie is that it is only 90 minutes long, so there are no dragged out or superfluous spots, which means the suspense starts at the very beginning and never lets up.

If you are inclined to see this movie, see it now, in a theater, preferably when there are a lot of people watching.  That would really tend to intensify the suspense and the "Oh-my-God" moments that are throughout the movie.  At the matinee performance we saw today, there were a total of five people in the theater, so that was bummer.  And to wait to watch on DVD or streaming in the comfort of your home would probably lessen the thrills and chills of the movie.

Kudos also need to go out to remarkable young actress Millicent Simmonds who plays Krasinski's and Blunt's  daughter.  Simmonds actually is deaf which makes her performance all the more remarkable.  The character's deafness plays a key role in the plot line of the movie, and it us also used in the sound effects of the movie to great and suspenseful effect as well.

The movie is worth the buzz it is getting.  Mrs. Grandstander and I both recommend it, but be prepared to be white-knuckling your armrests and jumping off of your seat more that once as you watch.

Three stars from The Grandstander.