For horror film lovers, ‘A Quiet Place’ looks like being one of the must-see films of 2018.

The horror category has undergone something of a transformation in recent years. No longer seen as a niche genre, it is forcing its way into the mainstream, with the much acclaimed ‘Get Out’ winning Best Original Screenplay at the 2018 Oscars.

‘A Quiet Place’ is directed by John Krasinsky – Jim from the US Office – and features him and his wife Emily Blunt as the main characters. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world where blind monsters are intent on wiping humanity off the face of the earth. The monsters hunt based on sound, so the characters exist in a giant game of hide and seek; as long as they keep quiet, they’re safe.

We know very little of the killing machines’ intent on the destruction of humanity. Were they produced in a laboratory or are they aliens from another planet? What we do know is they are truly terrifying.

The Abbott family has managed to survive by staying very quiet, partly thanks to their eldest daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), who’s deaf. To evade the monsters the family communicate in sign language. Lee (John Krasinski) and mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt) have built a home that is centred around keeping noise to a minimum – they have food stored away with surveillance cameras keeping a look out for the enemy.

Just to make things even harder for the family, Evelyn is pregnant and the prospect of a crying baby is a terrifying one. Without giving too much away, the circumstances of her labour are just about the worst a film character has had to endure. Blunt, who won a BAFTA back in 2007 for her role in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, is mighty impressive throughout this eerie horror and looks likely to be in the running for more awards for this performance.

Krasinski, who also wrote the script for the film, should be applauded for his smart use of close-ups that really capture the fear and dread of the Abbott family. Every expression – an open-mouthed look of panic and an over the shoulder glance of terror – are perfectly captured.

At a brisk 95 minutes, the film doesn’t waste time going into too much detail; the “noise = death” equation is easy to understand. The best horror films are the ones that keep things simple, and that’s certainly the case here.

For someone who is not a fan of horror films, I enjoyed ‘A Quiet Place’ a lot. The reaction from early screenings has been extremely complimentary and it’s easy to see why. This is one of the most original films I’ve seen in years and is one I would have no hesitation in recommending.