Film Name:寂靜之地 / A Quiet Place
For movies I want to watch, I try to see them in theaters rather than on my computer—this habit has almost become a principle for me in recent years. The same goes for the newly released, critically acclaimed “A Quiet Place.”
This is an incredibly wise yet high-risk choice: on one hand, the film’s unique premise offers a far more immersive viewing experience in theaters; on the other hand, viewing this film demands a demanding environment. While a theater with excellent soundproofing and noise reduction is ideal, what matters more is that fellow audience members remain quiet. If someone keeps answering calls or shouting out loud, the experience is severely diminished…
As for the film’s quality, I can only say it’s not quite up to par, but it’s still worth seeing.
[Spoiler Alert: The following contains spoilers.]
Those who’ve seen “A Quiet Place” likely have some grievances to voice. The first half builds up numerous unresolved issues, and the ending deflates the tension that had been steadily mounting—which explains why the film hasn’t received overwhelmingly positive reviews domestically.
To be fair, the film’s premise contains numerous plot holes or unexplained elements. For instance, when the family heads to the supermarket for supplies, making noise is a deadly taboo—so why do they let their young, still-naive son run around freely? And on the way home, they tacitly allow him to bring up the rear in the group. This would seem odd even in everyday life, let alone in a dangerous post-apocalyptic world— the opening aims to establish the “silent horror” atmosphere, but sacrificing plausibility feels like a trade-off that doesn’t quite pay off (the family not moving to the waterfall or the female lead’s pregnancy seem minor by comparison).
Moreover, many questions that ordinary viewers might naturally ask remain largely unexplained in the film. The brief glimpses in Lee Abbott’s lab—such as “monsters impervious to bullets,” “the military’s rout,” and ” and “monsters not eating prey” in Lee Abbott’s lab. The plot point where the alien monsters are defeated by the “noise” reflected from Reagan’s hearing aids is another point that makes many viewers cringe—not that it’s impossible, but discovering such a simple weakness so late in the game makes humanity seem overly reactive and short-sighted…
Ultimately, this is a $17 million (near) B-movie. Director and lead actor John Krasinski, making his feature directorial debut in this genre, understood the film’s positioning. Thus, A Quiet Place is categorized as horror/ thriller, not sci-fi. When revising the script, he played to his strengths by sacrificing explanations for the survivors’ existence and sci-fi backstory, instead focusing on developing character relationships.
This proves a remarkably bold and intelligent choice: the film’s box office success across Europe and North America this spring stems not from scientific rigor or terrifying monsters, but from audiences captivated by its unique atmosphere and portrayal of familial bonds.
The greatest strength of “A Quiet Place” lies in its creation of a near-silent apocalyptic world. To evade attacks from alien creatures, survivors must avoid all noise. Communication relies on sign language and light signals; walking requires bare feet and stepping on sand. Most achievements of human civilization must be abandoned, as they generate significant sound…
Without the subtle sound effects and background music, some viewers might suspect a projection malfunction or their own hearing loss—it’s precisely this abnormal atmosphere that amplifies and defines the film’s exceptional mood.
The most iconic scene occurs when the family is out and Evelyn’s water breaks unexpectedly, just as the creatures breach the home’s defenses…
On the commonly used “pain scale,” childbirth pain for women is rated at level 12 (the highest) as unbearable agony. Having a long nail driven into the sole of your foot is at least an 8-10 on that scale, and even after removal, the pain subsides only slightly. Evelyn endures prolonged, extreme pain without anesthesia until the baby is delivered. Screaming is her only means of relief, yet the film strips her of even this “mercy.”
Beyond seeing the bigger picture through small details, we come to understand that the characters in A Quiet Place live long-term in an environment that defies psychological norms and physiological laws. The film’s foundational context is fundamentally “inhumane”… Audiences immersed in the story naturally empathize deeply.
Beyond its masterful atmospheric creation, the film’s most commendable aspect lies in its portrayal of family dynamics and the precious bonds of kinship.
—Admittedly, many conflicts in A Quiet Place stem from the protagonists’ reckless choices. Sister Regan’s “indulgence” of her brother taking toys indirectly led to his tragic death, while Evelyn and Lee, overcome with grief yet determined to “move forward,” conceived another child… Yet viewed another way, humanity has evolved through repeated mistakes, and “soft emotions” remain a universal human weakness.
Evelyn’s line to her husband—”What are we if we can’t protect our children?”—largely explains their foolish yet resolute actions. Meanwhile, the dynamic between Lee and Regan offers a (potentially) brilliant exploration of father-daughter bonds.
Regan is a deaf child. When the world is forced into silence, her psychological burden is far lighter than others’, and she even finds a strange comfort in it (her optimistic demeanor at the beginning hints at this)… Her brother’s death shatters her equilibrium. Regan believes it’s her fault, and her father’s “silent” demeanor only reinforces her self-imposed guilt.
As a father, Lee could never truly resent his daughter. Family dynamics, environmental shifts, and other factors left him unable to express his genuine feelings toward Reagan, forcing him instead to immerse himself in crafting hearing aids for her…
Amidst this lack of communication, the father-daughter distance grows until Lee finally bares his heart while sacrificing himself to save his children. Only then does the rift between them melt away. Ultimately, it is the hearing aid Lee left for Reagan that helps the family defeat the alien monster.
By the film’s conclusion, despite earlier plot holes, this device elevates it to near-excellence. Yet the monster-defeating finale remains clichéd—while showcasing its strengths, its weaknesses are laid bare. Ultimately, this horror-thriller ultimately dons the mantle of “science fiction.” It may insist, “It’s not the main focus, we barely wear it,” yet it still dons it with solemnity. Audiences can’t be blamed for judging the entire outfit based on this “mediocre coat.”
Throughout, the film fixates solely on the dichotomy of “silence” versus “sound.” While its surface execution is largely beyond reproach, its failure to delve deeper into thematic substance proves its downfall… This lack of layered “elevation” is precisely what downgrades A Quiet Place from a potential ‘excellent’ to merely “decent.”
Nevertheless, this film—which achieves so much with so little—still offers many lessons worth learning, such as creativity, acting, and production values… To put it simply, if more mid-to-low-budget films could maintain the patience to hone their core strengths like A Quiet Place did, we’d likely see more solid works—even true gems.
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