★★★★

As unpredictable as it is thrilling, John Krasinski's horror debut A Quiet Place is a wholly original concept that is executed strategically and with success. While still an entertaining and anxiety-riddled ride for anybody looking for a scare, it tactfully reminds us of the horror genre's function of unlocking our basest emotions of adrenaline and fear - and demonstrates exactly what measures we will take in order to protect those we love.

The details of the film are essentially best left a secret, but its plot follows Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee Abbott (John Krasinski) as a couple who must keep their children safe from creatures who attack on the basis of sound. As a result, the family is forced to keep quiet in everything they do in order to survive.

The use of sound throughout the film was clever and enhanced its overall effect. There were many moments of pure, uninterrupted silence, creating in the audience the feeling as though they were stepping into the tense living environment of the Abbotts, on edge and so careful not to make a sound every second of the day - if you watched this in a theatre, you know there was no way you were rustling that popcorn bag. The film also had very little dialogue, but this was not necessary to push the story forward - the plot had no qualms developing without it. There was also a sharp score which entered at appropriate times, but it would have been interesting to see what this film would have been like without the use of a score.

The film was also driven by some really great performances by John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, as well as child actors Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe. It's not easy to act well without speaking, but this cast made it seem effortless.

Some have complained about apparent plot holes within the film, but I found everything to be pretty thoroughly explained, or at least presented in a way that leaves it easy to assume. I am left with a few questions, such as Where did these creatures come from? But often the best movies leave room for thought afterwards.

This was ultimately an incredibly successful endeavour into horror by Krasinski. He really captured what the true essence of horror: how it makes us feel, and how it maximizes our every feeling. The emphasis on a group of people so simple and readily understood by everyone - a family - was the smartest move of all that this movie made. Every decision by every character could easily make sense to anybody: every triumph, and every mistake.