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A terrific horror thriller as long as you let a few glaring problems slip by.

If you have seen the trailer you know that Earth has been invaded by creatures who are blind but rely on the slightest sound to find prey and kill it. These creatures have killed off everybody but a few.

What could a family do to survive? By remarkable idiocy, this one family – and there are a few in the vicinity – have made it. With an ample garden and deserted supermarkets and pharmacies to supply them, the mother, Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt), gets pregnant! It’s not a one-night-stand slip-up.

Now, in real life, Emily Blunt has two children, Hazel and Violet, with her husband John Krasinski, the director and co-screenwriter with Bryan Woods and Scott Beck.

Come on, John, couldn’t you let Woods and Beck have the screenwriting credit all by themselves? How many other names would be on it if every suggestion given by executives, agents, actors, friends, publicists, etc. was used?

Mom’s stupid, irresponsible pregnancy after living with these creatures for so long, puts us at a distance from caring about them. Especially when…a twist happens.

The family consists of a young son Marcus (Noah Jupe), a toddler Beau (Cade Woodward) and a daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) who is deaf. Now that is a serious problem since she cannot hear sounds that might awaken the creatures.

Lee Abbott (John Krasinski) has used his considerable engineering and technological skills in keeping his family safe, except when out walking he and Evelyn are in front and the kids are in the back. Heck, every hike is led by the leader in the front of the line and his assistant at the end of the line!

Do you still care about this family when you see that it is just dumb luck keeping them alive?

Now I’ve heard of pioneer women working in the fields and delivering a baby and they keep on with their harvesting schedule. But a 21^st century mom? When the time for her delivery is close at hand, Lee should be there. Who will clamp or cut the umbilical cord? I looked on WikiHow and I’d need a law degree to figure it out. What about the placenta and perineal tears? Can Evelyn stitch herself up?

Nevertheless, the family wants another child and I assume that Lee is going to cut the baby’s vocal cords as soon as the first cry is heard. Anyone who has children know babies cry constantly. This family ignores the real-life problems they are facing.

Lee has done all the research and he has one question no one has been able to answer: What is the creature’s weakness? Every living thing has one. Yet, Earth’s people have not come up with one.

If it were me, I would try everything, from chanting Buddhist mantras to waving chicken bones at them. Why not try to capture one? Maybe it has a purpose.

With a deaf child and the key to survival is silence, the family has devised some basic sign language.

The Earth may have gone to hell in a handbasket, but there is still electricity! Hurray! How have the families left alive know how to get those red Christmas lights on? Why red?

As Lee tries SOS and short wave to make contact with the other survivors, he is working on a hearing device for Regan – who happens to be a rebellious pre-teen. Life must look pretty gloomy with no boys her age around.

Not to keep us with the sense of being cheated, we do get to see exactly what the creatures look like. With a slender budget, quoted at $17 million, a small cast and limited locations, money was spent on delivering a very ugly, frightening monster.

If it seems I have too many complaints, they are just the ones you are going to have to dismiss to enjoy A QUIET PLACE. Because, aside from the stupidity of giving birth in this environment – even with an underground safe room – it does increase the suspense and drama. All horror films have to have set-ups that defy logic and you wait for the participants to figure out a clever way to surmount them.

Blunt is a strong actress and she gives everything for her husband’s film. If only she would have given such dedication to THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. No wonder so much was made of co-star Haley Bennett. If Blunt had been true to the character as envisioned in the book, she would have been a sloppy drunk with bad hair and frumpy clothes.

Krasinski gives his wife center stage as well as a few choice scenes for himself. The ending is satisfying and delivers a punch that makes A QUIET PLACE a hit.

Actress Millicent Simmonds has been deaf since infancy due to a medication overdose. This was the second film she starred in, with WONDERSTRUCK being her first.

Member of Las Vegas Film Critics Society: www.lvfcs.org/.

Victoria Alexander lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and answers every email at victoria.alexander.lv@gmail.com.