Review of The Quiet (2005) by Simon M — 05 Apr 2009

The Quiet is a psychological thriller from director Jamie Babbit that takes viewers to darker places than those to which one is typically transported in movies of this sort. The subject matter includes four kinds of abuse: physical, emotional, sexual, and substance. All of the main characters have secrets and/or engage in manipulation, and there's a lot going on in the unpredictable currents beneath the surface. The production is not without weaknesses - there are times when the proceedings become too lurid and the denouement feels unnecessarily protracted - but overall this is a compelling and sometimes disturbing motion picture.

What on the surface initially seems like your typical bitchy blonde-versus-ostracized newcomer teensploit is merely this taut psychological thriller's point of departure for the exploration of a more sobering set of circumstances.

The Quiet is going to disturb some viewers, and this is uncertain territory for any thriller to traverse. Babbit, however, is careful in the way she approaches the material, and the rhythms of the movie are often more what one would expect from a straight drama. Nevertheless, there is an underlying current of suspense and, even though the story's trajectory makes sense in hindsight, it is not predictable. For those who don't mind thrillers with darker, serious underpinnings, The Quiet is worth watching.