John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place’ And How A Horror Film Told A Story With Sound

If there is one film from this past year that fully capitalized on the intricacy of sound design, it’s John Krasinski‘s “A Quiet Place.” Not only did the film integrate sound to form a full-blown, terrifying auditory and visual experience, but also made it a part of the film that moved the narrative forward. “A Quiet Place” tells its story with and through sound. But how did these cues begin in the screenplay?

In a new video essay, Lessons From The Screenplay takes a behind the scenes look at “A Quiet Place.” In interviews with supervising sound editors for the film, Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl, audiences get a chance to see how screenplay and sound work in tandem. Sound might be an afterthought in the writing process, but for screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the sound of “A Quiet Place” was first communicated through the screenplay. The video essay highlights the tricks and formatting decisions the pair made in their drafts. Emphasizing words, even giving one action a full page gave an opportunity for the writers to convey sound, building to the audiovisual experience audiences saw on screen.

Taking matters further, Van der Ryan and Aadahl used cues from Beck and Woods to add perspective into the sound design. When the film shifts focus to Regan’s perspective the sound drastically changes. Setting up one of the most terrifying moments of the film, the horror comes with the jarring pulses of sound. “A Quiet Place” shows off a masterclass in sound telling a story. As a driving force for a horror narrative, the film brings two elements together for a succinct, audiovisual experience. It’s nerve-inducing, as you silently leave the theater, or tip-toe through your home, hoping that you will not make a sound.