Not all monsters hide in shadows—some wear cardigans and serve dessert
Soft & Quiet, the gripping directorial debut of Beth de Araújo, is a chilling real-time thriller that explores the insidious nature of white supremacy—and how evil can wear a smile, bake a pie, and quietly destroy lives.
The film opens on Emily (Stefanie Estes), a seemingly kind elementary school teacher, as she hosts a friendly gathering of like-minded women in a sun-dappled church rec room. What begins as an awkward, almost comical meeting of suburban women quickly curdles into something more sinister: this is a white nationalist group, and their polite surface hides deep rot. The tension tightens when a chance encounter with two Asian-American sisters spirals out of control, leading to a horrific chain of decisions that unfold in a single unbroken shot.
Shot in real time and designed to feel terrifyingly normal, Soft & Quiet exposes how racism thrives not only in loud, violent moments—but in the quiet, everyday choices of people who look “nice.” It’s not the horror of monsters, but the horror of neighbors. The kind you never expected, until it’s far too late.
Unflinching, relentless, and deeply uncomfortable, the film doesn’t ask for permission to shock—it dares the viewer to look away. But beneath the discomfort lies its brutal brilliance: a stark reminder that the most terrifying evils often arrive soft and quiet.
