Oftentimes, horror movies and thrillers go to extreme lengths to ignite fear in their audiences, using overly complex plots devoid of meaning that tend to come at the expense of the film’s quality. A Quiet Place is not one of those films. Instead, it uses an inventive and simple plot as well as clever audio choices to create an unsettling effect.

The plot focuses on a family whose silence is essential to their survival. While the prospect of watching a movie that is predominately silent may seem unsatisfying, it creates a surprisingly riveting viewing experience. Deep suspense is created by the varying volume of sounds, from complete silence to loud noises such as fireworks being set off. The lack of sound also forces the viewer to pay more attention to details and contributes to the sense of fear the movie evokes.

The film follows the Abbott family. The world as they know it is infested with blind creatures that are able to navigate using sound and that kill anything that makes a loud sound. Attempting to remain quiet at all costs, the family uses sign language to communicate, refrains from wearing shoes that could potentially make noise, and walks on a predetermined path, since a squeaky floorboard could mean the difference between life and death.

At multiple instances the family faces serious threats, coming close to losing their lives due to the emission of a loud sound. One particularly harrowing moment occurs when the mother is giving birth and the sounds attract the monsters the family has tried so hard to avoid.

The movie establishes the sense of a strong and loving bond among the parents, Lee and Evelyn, and their children, Regan, Marcus and Beau. It also depicts the strained but caring relationship between Lee and his daughter Regan following the death of the youngest sibling, Beau.

In addition, the spectacular acting of John Krasinski (Lee), Emily Blunt (Evelyn), Millicent Simmonds (Regan), and Noah Jupe (Marcus) contributes to the intense emotions evoked by the film, which contributes to the film’s intriguing and unique take on horror.

The only downfall of the film is that no context is provided as to how and why the monstrous creatures came into existence. However, the film’s shocking cliffhanger suggests that a sequel will be made. Perhaps the lack of context is deliberate, and the second film will provide more insight as to how these creatures came into existence.

Overall, A Quiet Place is a unique and fresh viewing experience that is sure to captivate, shock and thrill the audience with its interesting plot, well-structured storyline and inventive use of sound.