Could this film be the start of a whole new era for the psychological thriller genre, or is it just a fleeting enigma?
History of Psychological Thriller
The genre of “thriller” is used in entertainment - literary, film or otherwise - works that utilize suspense, tension and excitement to color plot devices. These attributes stimulate the viewer's moods causing them feel anticipation, ultra-heightened expectations, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and most often, terror. The most common use of subgenre to thriller is mystery, crime and psychological thrillers, however there are also many other subgenres. Psychological thrillers often being the most terrifying.
From the 1920s and 30s to the 1960s, no one made a better psychological thriller than Alfred Hitchcock. From how the films were shot to the direction he gave the actors, Hitchcock cornered the market on the psychological thrillers of film. One of the most recognizable psychological thrillers from the Hitchcock film house is “Psycho.” At a creepy hotel, with an all too pleasant hotel clerk who ends up being the killer. Even now, I can’t watch the film without cringing at the scene where Janet Leigh is brutally murdered in the shower. The reason I cite this scene is because even without seeing the blood and gore that is commonplace today, that scene terrifies nearly everyone. Because what we can imagine is always far worse than what one person could make pass the MPAA censors of the time.
If literary thriller is more your speed however, then you are more likely to be familiar with author Stephen King. Having written approximately 59 novels - many of which have been optioned for film or television adaption - you cannot discuss psychological thrillers. Though many people could list off several of his acclaimed novels, one of the novels that is always listed is “It.” A terrifying novel about a “demonic entity of evil” that lures children to their doom by taking the form of a pantomime clown. This novel deals with themes such as childhood trauma and - in my opinion - excessive violence, especially towards children. The most recent film adaption is the most literally accurate adaptations and it has already been optioned for the sequel, which has never been successful in a filmed version.
This sort of psychological thriller displays the other side from Hitchcock. While Hitchcock terrified an audience with the fears of their own mind, King went above and beyond to show you exactly what you should be terrified of.
What Makes this Film Revolutionary
Recently, I have found myself enjoying thrillers less and less because films categorized as thrillers are often more gore and less intellectual stimulation. This all changed, however, when I went to see John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place.” A film that uses sound more than anything else to scare views and make them so terrified to make noise themselves as they watch the film. When I went to the film it was one of the weirdest and surreal experiences I have had. Now do not panic, if you still haven’t seen the film - to which I can only wholeheartedly recommend you change immediately - there will be no plot spoilers below, only an analysis of themes and character choices.
The family lives in a world where they cannot make any sound as to avoid whatever it is that is stalking them. This family found many ways to avoid making sound and keeping under the radar; one of which being communicating through an augmented version of sign language specific to their family and what they need to communicate. But this isn’t even the most shocking and amazing thing. One of the children in the film is played by the wonderfully talented Millicent Simmonds - who, like her character is deaf. This adds to the soundscape of the film by shifting what the audience hears depending upon whose point of view the story is being told through. If it is through the eyes of the rest of the family, there is a cadence of nature that can be taken as either reassuring or terrifying; however, when Millicent’s character is the POV, ambient noise is completely gone. Much like if you were in space. The sound of no sound is one of my greatest fears - one I mostly attribute to growing up in a busy city. However, when you couple the fact that this deaf character is trying to stay alive and safe from a presence that attacks when it hears sound, how terrified would you be if you were unaware of when you were making sound?
The rest of the film is fairly simplistic in structure as sound is not only related to the audience as a key theme through the title, but this whole plot depends upon sound as the thing to be scared of. It was so bad at one point in the film, that you could have heard a pin drop in a full, sold out theater. No one wanted to eat any popcorn or sip any drink; coughs and sneezes were stifled, and no one dared to move in their seats. This level of complete and utter terror that filled the auditorium was almost as stunning as the film itself.
Final Thoughts
Films and literature are made to entertain, educate, inspire, and stir up emotion. This film makes you think as well as terrifying you to the core. This film is a huge success that I can only hope continues as similar writers are given chances to debut this kind of content.
I mean, who would’ve guessed that Jim from “The Office” was able to convey such emotion, and stir up such feeling of despair, terror, and unbridled emotion in every showing.
