“A Quiet Place” is a post-apocalyptic horror film that is as sorrowful as it is beautiful, as terrifying as it is lovely, as simplistic as it is emotionally complex, and so darn brilliant I can’t get the film out of my head.
John Krasinski (The Office, 13 Hours) writes, directs, and stars as a desperate husband and father trying to keep his family alive on a secluded farm surrounded by fast moving creatures that viscously attack at the slightest sound.
Krasinski’s real-life wife, Emily Blunt (Edge Of Tomorrow, The Devil Wears Prada), plays his equally territorial wife and together they devise a plan that includes walking barefoot and using sign language. Talking is a no-no; talking is a killer.
A cough, a laugh, anything above a whisper can result in death and despite everyone being on the same page, kids will be kids and adults will make mistakes, infusing “A Quiet Place” with an enormous amount of guilt. You can feel the overwhelming sadness in every frame of this masterful film.
There is also a sense of unexpected beauty to this film, the warm lights that surround the compound, the spaces they have made for themselves, a touching dance between wife and husband, the faces of the children and their willingness to please their parents. This is a superbly crafted and acted film.
“Alien” and Ridley Scott arrived at some of the same conclusions, as did M. Night Shyamalan in “Signs” and Frank Darabont in TV’s “The Walking Dead.”
Last year, “Get Out” re-imagined the horror genre with a perfect sense of current events infused with racism and this year, “A Quiet Place,” keeps the genre bending on an equal, fascinating level.
Something smart and good is going on here. John Krasinski has created a PG-13 horror-thriller that would rather make you think and feel deeply instead of slashing its way to box office gore and glory.
“A Quiet Place” is scary and touching because it’s well-made. When my heart stops pounding I’ll see it again.
The Perfect Pairing: Wines that will leave you speechless …
By Hayley Hamilton Cogill
For this relatively silent, scare-the-daylights out of you film, a few wines that beg to be savored quietly. Yes, there are wines enhanced with vibrant conversation and celebration. Think of any sparkling wine popped with enthusiasm on special occasions. Or your girls’ night Rosé, opened with best friends as you gossip over your day.
Instead, for “A Quiet Place” consider a thought-provoking wine that requires a pause, a beat, a measure, enjoyed with eyes closed, awakening the palate and the mind to fully understand the complexity and character of the wine.
For me, this wine would be a Barolo. I recall the first time I tried Barolo, with the Nebbiolo fruit layering forest floor and dusty truffle with ripe red cherry, wild roses, tar, and woody herbs. My mind was blown. I was speechless. A dense and highly concentrated wine, with robust, astringent tannins that made your mouth water like a sprinkler. But, in the midst of that structure and intensity, there was freshness, highlighting the fruit and mineral driven earthiness. I continue to fall in love with Barolo, feeling thankful every time one passes my palate.
For my husband, it would likely be a Bordeaux, from the Left Bank, a Cabernet Sauvignon focused wine. He is a Cab guy, loving the espresso, leather and dark cherry notes that leap from the glass of a well-made option.
Thankfully there are several selections of both available on the island. For Barolo fans, consider Vietti Castiglione ($65) with rose, wild strawberry, and tobacco, or Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco ($59) layering red cherry, tar, and woody herbs. For Bordeaux fans, Chateau Latour Pauillac de Latour ($90) delivers with ripe raspberry, red licorice, roasted coffee, and warm baking spice.
Gary Cogill is an Emmy award-winning film critic, speaker and film producer. His wife, Hayely Hamilton Cogill, is a Sommelier, wine writer, and educator. Together they host “Cogill Wine And Film, A Perfect Pairing” podcast on reVolverPodcasts.com while living on Hawaii Island in Kamuela. Follow Gary on Twitter @GaryCogill. For more pairing suggestions follow Hayley on Instagram and Twitter @DallasUncorked.