"The Quiet Hour" is Stephanie Joalland's latest post-apocalyptic film, set after an alien invasion. A brother, Tom (Jack McMullen), and a sister, Sarah (Dakota Blue Richards), take shelter on their parents' farm. Tom, as we quickly discover, is blind. Sarah opens the film burying a body, which we soon discover is her father's, and Tom has no idea. The reason this movie is called "The Quiet Hour" is because there are only a few hours a day that they can go outside without getting killed by the aliens, making everything even more isolating.
While Sarah goes out to find food, a soldier, Jude (Karl Davies), breaks into their house and steals what little they have to eat. Fortunately, Sarah returns in time to stop him. However, they are not alone. A convoy of five people sets up in front of the farm and demands that they release the soldier and in return they will leave. The whole situation has a very familiar feel to the movie "The Purge." The soldier reveals that he is a journalist and not a soldier, and that these people killed his wife and son. One of the men in the car breaks into the house and tries to r*pe Sarah, but Jude knocks him down. The woman, Kathryn (Brigitte Millar), in the car makes contact, saying that if they hand over her husband's body, they will leave. They hand over the body, but as it turns out, they don't leave. Instead, there is a less intense confrontation in the barn. In the end, the only survivors are Sarah and Tom, and we return to where we started.
With a greater focus on characterizations and less on alien activity, this film is well-crafted and is more about how people would survive in any situation. If it weren't for the occasional glance at the sky where we see alien ships hovering, you would forget that an alien invasion is taking place. Why are the aliens here? Apparently, they are mining minerals from Earth, what minerals they are, we have no idea. The aliens also leave the planet as soon as they arrive, without explanation. Stephanie Joalland's feature directorial debut doesn't bring us anything we haven't seen before, but what it does show is that the ability to create a film in one location can be done competently.
Here, the alien invasion scenario is just the stage on which the survival thriller is set. While some may see this as a major plot hole, it needs to be approached from a different perspective. Right now, in this place, the invasion is secondary to the more immediate threat to Sarah, Tom and Jude from the bandits who want to kill them and take what they have. That's the true genius of the story. It could have easily been told without the alien part of the plot. But the fact is that the characters don't know much more than the viewers. They just know that their world has been attacked and they are doing what they need to do to survive.
In fact, it's the survival thriller side of the film that leaves something to be desired. After the bandits arrive with a terrifying attack, the story slows down, hinting at a romance between Sarah and Jude, with younger brother Tom disapproving of this stranger in their home. Meanwhile, the bandits prove to be remarkably inefficient at their profession, making you wonder how they managed to survive so long. Ultimately, a weak group of antagonists results in a story that isn't as engaging as it could have been. On the other hand, Stéphanie Joalland, who wrote and directed the film, manages to capture the feeling of Sarah and Tom's remote exile. Their only connection to the outside world was a CB radio until Jude's arrival. The performances from the three main cast members are passable and mostly convincing, stretched only by the material they have to work with.
There is an additional conflict in the story that explains the reason behind Earth's state. This is indeed an interesting idea (which really shouldn't be spoiled), but it doesn't get enough attention in the plot, although I also understand the idea of creating an ambiguous threat to parallel the very evident problem these main characters are forced to face. . Questions are placed before the viewer, and gradually the answers are revealed. This works, and structurally, it's very well done. Some bold and unexpected tactics could have paid big dividends, but they could have just as easily sunk the ship.
"The Quiet Hour" turns to the human characters to create its enemies, and for the most part, it succeeds. For an hour a day, the aliens are silent, allowing the remaining members of humanity to move freely and play a particularly mischievous game of chess as they fight for resources. This means that "The Quiet Hour" relies heavily on its ability to create tension. We spend most of the film on Tom and Sarah's farm, trying to determine whether Jude is a blessing or a curse to these young siblings. These moments create a tense atmosphere. There's the constant threat of the outside world closing in on the walls, and Jude's uncertain presence within them adds extra spice to events. An interesting aspect of the film is the decision not to show the aliens, just their spaceships. This makes the story more focused on the human characters and their struggles, leaving the aliens as an abstract threat. This choice increases suspense and anxiety, as viewers are in the same position as the characters, without knowing exactly what they are facing.
The plot also has well-directed passages that create tension, especially due to a very well filmed attempted r*pe scene. There is no nudity, just pure horror. The fact that Tom and Jude are downstairs, within shouting distance, makes the scene that much more uncomfortable. Fortunately, Jude strangles him before the act can happen. This just goes to show that you can film a r*pe scene without it being graphic and exposed. It can be subtle and equally or more frightening. There are also small scenes of mistrust and tension that unfold until the brothers have more details about Jude's past life. The fact that the protagonists and the audience don't know whether or not they can trust that intruder makes for some very interesting moments.
But for the most part, "The Quiet Hour" is slower paced, more intimate and has no real ending. Just stop. The script could have gone in so many directions that would have made this plot more compelling. More scenes of tension and suspense throughout the film with more well-developed and threatening antagonists would be a more than welcome addition. Already in the last minutes, perhaps with everyone dying except Tom and he must live his life alone and blind. Maybe the farmhouse burns down and they have to start over. But the ending was really abrupt and without courage. However, one thing I really like about this movie is that they never show the aliens. Just your ships. The feeling is mixed at the end of the credits, while the premise is interesting and we want to get more involved with the story, this slower aspect, without major events or twists and weak antagonists ends up taking away much of the strength of the narrative.
Additionally, the abrupt ending may leave some viewers wishing for more resolution. This is an example of how post-apocalyptic cinema can excel by focusing on human struggles and creating an oppressive atmosphere. Despite its imperfections, it's a solid choice for those who appreciate a tense thriller and a different take on an apocalyptic setting. It is also worth it for the good performance of the cast, especially by the beautiful Dakota Blue Richards, who shows the strength, courage, intelligence and also the vulnerability of her character in a precise way. In the end, "The Quiet Hour" is a post-apocalyptic film that deserves recognition for its unique approach to alien invasion. Although it presents some deficiencies in the narrative and performances, its ability to create a constantly tense and claustrophobic atmosphere captivates the viewer. The choice not to reveal the aliens, keeping them as an abstract threat, adds mystery and suspense to the story. However, it is important to note that the film leaves some questions unanswered and leaves the feeling that it could have explored more deeply the conflicts and moral dilemmas of its characters.
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