*Spoilers Ahead*
Some actors are so talented at taking a role and making it theirs, that for as long as they live, they will always be known as that specific character, with little opportunity to play a diverse range of characters going forward. Daniel Radcliff will always be Harry Potter, Toby Maguire will always be Spiderman, and John Krasinski will always be Jim Halpert. When Krasinski was announced as the male lead in a new mental thriller, A Quiet Place, we were skeptical. The Office is a part of a very different genre and had a highly comedic premise. Will we be able to put Jim Halpert aside, and find treasure in Krasinski’s new role?
A Quiet Place takes place in a world where silence is the key to survival. Humanity is being hunted by creatures that have no sight and rely on their keen sense of sound to find their prey. John Krasinski and his real-life wife star in this film together, which is exactly as sweet as it sounds. Since the film is focused on a world without dialogue, easy to read facial expressions and body movements are crucial to really sell the performance and make the audience understand how the characters are feeling and what the characters are thinking. The parallel in John and Emily’s marriage adds a dynamic to the film that otherwise is hard to picture. A love between two people during a time where a calendar is the only way to keep the days apart, medicine isn’t readily available, and a crying baby can cause death to an entire family is a hard act to, well, act. The true love between the married couple makes the performance not only enjoyable, but believable as well.
With limited dialogue to use as a crutch, every other detail has to be fine-tuned to solidify the setting and convince the audience of this fictional, yet eerily realistic world. Most of the film is set outside, which makes for beautiful scenery and ear-catching sounds to play as a contrast to the lack of dialogue. A Quiet Place proves that outside is the most dangerous place to be, yet the camera shots and landscape made us want to frolic outside… quietly. There isn’t any modern technology, though the family hadn’t always lived in a quiet society. The audience is aware of time by the amount of days spent in near silence/havoc flashing across the screen a few times during the movie (no clocks, phones, or watches). They raided a pharmacy like any good family does in a deserted town, and they brave the loss of a child. This movie brought back some of the older, familiar essences of a typical thriller and was able to successfully make the fictional town into a reality.
John and Emily are accompanied by three children, two sons and a deaf daughter, played by actress Millicent Simmonds. The best part? Her character doesn’t hold the family back. In fact, she showcases her intelligence throughout the film and is completely fearless. She is also ultimately responsible for finding a solution that distracts and disables the human-hunting beings, saving her family (except her father) from becoming prey. In a recent interview, Millicent (Millie) discusses what it felt like to work on set and what it means to her to have represented the deaf community. The entire set learns sign language, and she describes how heartwarming it was that almost everybody could communicate with her on set. There was still an interpreter around, but she never felt left out and is so proud of the work she’s done, and she should be! Representation in the film business, though increasing, is still hard to find, and A Quiet Place shines a very bright light on Millicent’s character as she represents and continues to use her platform to inspire others in the deaf community.
Although A Quiet Place is nearly dialogue-free, its reliance on body movements, facial expressions and solid plot-line comes through and makes A Quiet Place an unforgettable, thrilling and gratifying film.