‘Soft & Quiet’ (2022) Review: A Monster of Karens
Beth de Araújo’s Soft & Quiet is a disturbing movie that shows the violence against people of colour in America. Racism is the biggest domestic threat in America. Shot in one take, Araújo shows the extreme lengths that white supremacists will go to weaponize themselves and act as the victim whenever they feel threatened by people of colour. It’s a frightening look at white nationalism. Araújo clearly understands racism and white supremacy are extremely harmful towards people of colour. But the one question that lingers throughout the movie is, who is this movie for?
The movie begins with Emily (Stefanie Estes), a schoolteacher who is preparing to host a meeting with a group of “like-minded individuals” at the church’s rec room. ‘The Daughters of the Aryan Race,’ includes Leslie (Olivia Luccardi), Kim (Dana Millican) and Marjorie (Eleanore Pienta). Emily and her friends share baked goods with swastika-carved pies and drink wine while talking about the dangers of multiculturalism. They begin to complain about “illegals” taking over their jobs and getting a promotion before them. Their meeting is over when the pastor overhears their conversation and asks them to leave. Emily plays it off and suggests they meet over at her place for more wine. While on their way to pick up more wine at Kim’s convenience store, these women meet sisters, Anne (Melissa Paulo) and Lily (Cissy Ly), and yell racial slurs at them. Emily and her friends threaten the sisters and the sisters leave before things escalate. When Anne and Lily leave the store, Emily and her friends plan to go to the sister’s home and play a prank on them. From that point on, everything goes downhill.
Soft & Quiet knows how to build tension in the movie. Araújo accomplishes this by shooting the entire movie in one take. In the beginning, cinematographer Greta Zozula uses steady camera shots to show Emily and her friends inside the rec room but the moment things begin to escalate inside the sister’s home, the camera is shaky. Zozula also follows Emily behind whenever she goes because she is the ringleader of the ‘support group.’ When the momentum picks up, the frames become blurry and indistinguishable to demonstrate the chaos they created inside the sister’s home. All of these elements represent the discomfort and obscenity of the hatred these women have harboured towards the two sisters.
Let’s talk about who this movie is made for. For white supremacists, this might just be a sick fantasy of violence and racial abuse. On the other hand, people of colour might be uncomfortable watching a movie, which shows the worst nightmare imaginable for them. Araújo does not want to change anyone’s mind. But in a racially-divided America, don’t people like this already exist? People are radicalised by extremists who promote violence and hatred. It certainly fits the current social commentary on the kind of evil that doesn’t hold them accountable.
Soft & Quiet is unpleasant to watch. It’s a takedown of the most dangerous aspects of America’s greatest threat. The movie shows the lengths which humans are willing to go through to commit violent acts, even if it means breaking their values and morals. But not a single one of these women is good or has good morals. In a shocking and unbelievable series of events, the movie shows that the most despicable human beings don’t need to wear masks because they walk amongst everybody. Soft & Quiet is a nerve-wracking movie that will leave the audience with thought-provoking questions, and Araújo’s directorial debut will definitely grab people’s attention.
