A Quiet Place is a 2018 American post-apocalyptic horror film directed by John Krasinski, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. The film stars Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe. It follows a family of four who must navigate a world overrun by sound-sensitive creatures.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $340 million worldwide against a production budget of $17 million. It was praised for its direction, performances, sound design, and originality. The film received several accolades, including nominations for the Academy Awards for Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing.
Plot
In 2023, the Earth has been taken over by sound-sensitive creatures that hunt humans based on the sounds they make. The Abbott family, Lee (Krasinski), Evelyn (Blunt), Regan (Simmonds), and Marcus (Jupe), have adapted to their new way of life by communicating in sign language, walking barefoot, and using sand to muffle their footsteps.
One day, while scavenging for supplies, Marcus sets off a noisemaker, attracting a creature that kills him. Lee sacrifices himself to save his children, leaving Evelyn to raise the two remaining children on her own.
A year later, Evelyn is heavily pregnant. Regan, who is deaf, feels responsible for her father and brother's deaths and is determined to help her family. She experiments with hearing aids in an attempt to find a way to fight the creatures.
One day, while exploring an abandoned farmhouse, Regan discovers a frequency that seems to harm the creatures. She shares her discovery with her mother, and they realize that they can use this frequency to repel the creatures.
The Abbotts decide to amplify the frequency and broadcast it from their farmhouse. They hope that this will draw all of the creatures in the area to one place, where they can be killed.
The plan works initially, but the creature that killed Marcus is drawn to Regan's cochlear implant, which is still emitting the frequency. Evelyn manages to save Regan, but the creature destroys their farmhouse.
With their home destroyed, the Abbotts flee to a nearby island. They are able to broadcast the frequency again, killing the creatures that are pursuing them. The film ends with the Abbotts family signaling to other survivors that they are not alone.
Themes
- Communication: The film explores the importance of communication, especially in a world where sound can be deadly. The Abbotts must learn to communicate with each other in new ways, such as sign language and touch.
- Family: The film is also about the importance of family. The Abbotts are a close-knit unit, and they rely on each other for survival. They are willing to do anything to protect each other, even sacrifice their own lives.
- Hope: Despite the bleak setting, the film is ultimately a hopeful one. It shows that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for survival.
Critical reception
A Quiet Place was praised by critics for its direction, performances, sound design, and originality. It was particularly noted for its use of silence and suspense. The film was also praised for its themes of communication, family, and hope.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 91% approval rating based on 483 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A Quiet Place is a thrilling and suspenseful horror film that is elevated by its strong direction, performances, and sound design. It is a must-see for fans of the genre."
On Metacritic, the film has a score of 81 out of 100 based on 51 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim."
Awards and nominations
A Quiet Place was nominated for several awards, including:
- Academy Awards:
- Best Sound Mixing
- Best Sound Editing
- Golden Globe Awards:
- Best Motion Picture - Drama
- Best Director (John Krasinski)
- Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama (Emily Blunt)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards:
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Box office
A Quiet Place was a commercial success, grossing over $340 million worldwide against a production budget of $17 million. The film was released in the United States on April 6, 2018, and opened to $50.2 million. It went on to gross $188.8 million domestically and $151.2 million internationally.
Sequel
A sequel to A Quiet Place, titled A Quiet Place Part II, was released on May 28, 2021. The film