Analysis of a Modern Horror Film
The movie selected is A Quiet Place, directed by John Krasinski. The film, which was released in 2018, centers around Lee and Evelyn Abbott’s family, struggling to raise their children, Regan and Marcus, where mysterious creatures hunt by noise and kill people (Krasinski, 2018).
Genre Comparison: Similarities and Differences
The film A Quiet Place aligns with the notable characteristics of horror movie content as it deploys tension-building techniques and emphasizes suspense (Filmmaker IQ, 2014). At the same time, the movie relies on atmospheric elements, strategic pacing, and psychological fear to evoke a heightened emotional reaction from the audience or viewers. The film differs by making silence a critical component, whereas, in contrast to traditional horror relying on dialogue or music, A Quiet Place minimizes spoken words, using muteness to intensify phobia.
The Role of Sound in Horror
Sound is integral to the film’s plot, as characters must remain silent to evade human-killing creatures (Krasinski, 2018). Every rustle or creak becomes a prospective threat, augmenting the unease (Dirks, 2023a). Notable areas where the sound was exceptional entail using the family’s signaling system with lights, the suspenseful creek of floorboards, and the amplified ambient noises in scenes of absolute quietude.
Censorship and the Hays Code: Would the Film Be Allowed?
To a great extent, the regulation of content in films has been a crucial factor in the development of commercial cinema. The movie A Quiet Place involves intense suspense and spine-chilling elements, significantly depending on the tension-filled atmosphere. Therefore, I think the film’s content might have faced release challenges under the Hays code, featuring a post-apocalyptic world and monstrous creatures hunting grounded on sound. The principle executed from 1934 to 1968 imposed strict ethical guidelines on movies, emphasizing decency and moral standards, and the film A Quiet Place does not conform to Hay’s doctrines (Ministry of Cinema, 2014).
Moreover, the code explicitly prohibited specific themes and content encompassing depictions of “ridicule of the clergy,” excessive or lustful kissing,” and “sympathy for offenders”(Filmmaker IQ, 2013). Given the film’s profound and frightening nature, it could have been scrutinized for its portrayal of terror and the violation of Hay’s provisions against spearheading fear and apprehension (Dirks, 2023b). The code’s emphasis on integrity norms and the potential perception of the film as morally objectifiable due to its intense content might have resulted in alterations or restrictions in its release.
References
Dirks, T. (2023). The history of film: The 1920s: The pre-talkies and the silent era. Filmsite. Web.
Dirks, T. (2023). The history of film: The 1930s: The talkies, the growth of the studios, and ‘the golden age of Hollywood.’ Web.
Filmmaker IQ. (2013). The History of Hollywood censorship and the ratings system [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Filmmaker IQ. (2014). The history of horror [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Krasinski, J. (Director). A quiet place [Film]. Platinum DunesProductions.
Ministry of Cinema. (2014). Film history: Golden age of Hollywood: Timeline of cinema [Video]. YouTube. Web.