Usually, classic horror movies have a lot of screaming and loud, startling noises. However, a new breed of scary movies uses silence and slow-burn techniques to elicit terror from the audience.
One such film is “A Quiet Place .” If you have enjoyed this masterpiece, you’d probably want to watch the following 11 movies like A Quiet Place.
About “A Quiet Place”
An Overview
Release Date | March 2018 |
Film Distributor | Paramount Pictures |
Running Time | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Director | John Krasinski |
Screenwriter | John Krasinski |
Producer | Michael Bay |
Genre | Horror, drama, sci-fi |
Age Rating | PG 13 |
Cast
Emily Blunt – Evelyn Abbott
John Krasinski – Lee Abbott
Millicent Simmonds – Regan Abbott
Noah Jupe – Marcus Abbott
Cade Woodward – Beau Abbott
Synopsis
A Quiet Place is a 2018 horror film that revolves around a mother and father’s quest for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
The couple, Evelyn and Lee, struggle to raise their children in a place where even the slightest noise can trigger monsters with an acute sense of hearing. People or things that make sounds attract these deadly extra-terrestrial predators.
The Abbott family tries their best to survive in an era of total silence. They live an isolated, muted life in upstate New York. It’s been twelve months since the first monster sightings, and the family stays resilient and strong. However, what was supposed to be a joyful event challenges their fragile state even more.
Review
The secret to a great horror film is its perfect timing- something that A Quiet Place was able to execute down to a tee. Unknown species as predators are not new movie concepts, but this film provided a unique feature – the monsters’ attraction to noises.
The director built the terrifying scenes through creative camera work and brilliant sound editing. The mesmerizing cinematography and appropriate lighting were plus factors, too. The director created breathtaking tension, keeping the audience at the edge of their seats.
Critics acclaimed this film for many reasons. However, the acting was an element that was also highly praised. Since there isn’t much dialogue, the film relies on the actors to convey the message.
Real-life couple Blunt and Krasinski gave compelling portrayals of parents who would do anything to protect their family. Even the kids’ acting was top-notch. This film deserves all the hype, indeed.
If you can’t get enough of A Quiet Place, check out this list of similar movies.
1. The Silence (2019)
English 1h 30m IMDb
Director: John R. Leonetti
Stars: Stanley Tucci, Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto
This movie will satisfy those who love the post-apocalyptic genre. It revolves around a family’s life as they struggle to survive unknown species from a vast underground cave. These creatures have lived and evolved in pitch darkness for millions of years.
Until one day, they escaped their habitat and brought terror to the world. What’s terrifying about these predators is they hunt with their exceptional hearing ability. A single sound can set them off to wreak havoc on everyone. This concept is very similar to A Quiet Place.
The family, including their teenage daughter with hearing disabilities, sought refuge in a remote place. What they thought was a haven proved to be equally dangerous as well. The director did the jump scares and special effects perfectly. The details of the creatures were meticulously created, adding to the film’s scare factor.
2. Bird Box (2018)
English 2h 4m IMDb
Director: Susanne Bier
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich
Starring award-winning actress Sandra Bullock, Bird Box is a movie about an unknown worldwide terror. The mysterious entity forces people to take their own lives once they see it. A mother decides to flee this horrible situation to find a safer place for her kids.
They traveled along a dangerous forest and river while blindfolded. They had to avoid the sinister creature at all costs to save them from its deadly consequences.
Like A Quiet Place, this movie uses the human senses to invoke fear. In this case, the characters need to sacrifice using their sense of sight to get away from the monster. It touches on hope and faith to overcome the horrors of this world. The film cleverly
3. It Comes at Night (2017)
English 1h 31m IMDb
Director: Trey Edward Shults
Stars: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo
An apocalypse of unknown origin wiped out the population except for a few survivors. Two families desperate to escape the sinister threat were forced to live with another family in isolation. Everyone tried their best to keep the evil forces out of their sanctuary.
However, they soon realize that evil is closer than they think. A father learns that protecting his family might cost his soul. Mistrust and paranoia overpowered even the best intentions.
The film’s premise reflects most fears people experience at present. It shows a relatable dilemma of saving oneself or helping others. The lighting and the heartstopping music added to the tense atmosphere. The movie has minimal dialogue, like A Quiet Place.
It relies primarily on acting to convey a message of terror and despair. Its slow-burn development leaves its audience gripping its seats. Critics laud the open ending that’s dark and mysterious. It allows viewers to interpret it using their analyses.
4. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
English 1h 43m IMDb
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Stars: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr.
The female lead, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), wakes up one day in an underground bunker with two men. She has survived a car accident, and Howard (John Goodman) rescued her. According to Howard, a widespread chemical attack made the air not fit for breathing.
The only way to survive is to remain in the bunker. Life underground was comfortable and safe at first. However, Michelle found the need to escape due to Howard’s menacing and controlling ways. When she finally reached the front door, she discovered the truth.
This film builds up a suspenseful uncertainty that keeps the audience focused. The cast may be limited, but each had exceptional acting skills that kept the film interesting. John Goodman gave a menacing performance that will surely give the audience shivers.
The action sequences were creatively done and provided an unforgettable, ominous feeling.
5. A Quiet Place 2 (2020)
English 1h 37m IMDb
Director: John Krasinski
Stars: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy
Though stricken with grief, Evelyn Abbott must continue her family’s fight for survival. Like in the first movie, they fought the sinister creatures requiring total silence. Evelyn, her two teenage kids, and baby have set off on a mission to find civilization.
Armed with new knowledge of the predator’s weakness, they embark on a dangerous quest. However, the sound-attracted hunters aren’t the only threat. The uncharted territory has other enemies they need to fight, too.
John Krasinski proved once again his excellent direction skills in this installment. Like the first film, this movie kept the viewers at the edge of their seats. Emily Blunt as Evelyn gave a spectacular performance.
Even Millicent Simmons was superb as Evelyn’s daughter. The director used crucial conflicts to bring out the best in every film. The film also provided an origin story about the creatures, answering many of the viewer’s questions.
6. Hereditary (2018)
English 2h 7m IMDb
Director: Ari Aster
Stars: Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne
The Grahams mourn the loss of the family matriarch. Each one had its way of dealing with grief. Annie (Toni Collette) and her daughter (Milly Shapiro taunted supernatural entities.
They unravel sinister secrets and terrifying trauma that has been passed through generations. These otherworldly and disturbing experiences test the family’s sanity and trust in their ancestry. The family agonizes over creepy occurrences that reveal the grandmother’s secrets.
This film may be in the horror genre, but it tackles the consequences of emotional manipulation among family members. It reveals the hereditary effects of demonic curses and how it ruins lives.
While some critics find it confusing, some viewers encourage repeated viewings to understand its essence. Like the movie, A Quiet Place, it doesn’t rely on too many horror cliches. It slowly builds up tension and leads to a significant upheaval.
7. Don’t Breathe (2016)
English 1h 28m IMDb
Director: Fede Alvarez
Stars: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette
Rocky, played by Jane Levy, is a young woman who wishes for a better life for her and her sister. She agreed to join a robbery to escape her terrible parents and poverty. Together with her friend and boyfriend, they invaded the home of a wealthy blind man.
Their victim was a war veteran who won a hefty settlement from the death of his child. However, the tables were turned as they became trapped in the man’s secluded home. As they run for their lives inside the creepy home, they discover a shocking secret that reveals the man isn’t as unfortunate as they thought.
Viewers laud the use of light and shadow to elicit terror and suspense. The plot twists and the chase scenes make the audience hold their breath, just like in A Quiet Place. While not entirely original, the camera work and the storyline are still exceptional.
8. The Mist (2007)
English 2h 6m IMDb
Director: rank Darabont
Stars: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden
After a violent storm hits, a strange mist enveloped a small Maine town. The Drayton family’s home was one of the casualties of the disaster. David, the father, brought his son, Billy, to a grocery store the next day.
However, they become trapped with other people. They soon discovered that the mist concealed frightening forces that wanted to kill humans.
Touted as one of the best movie adaptations of a Stephen King novel, The Mist did not disappoint. It might require some patience from the audience but wait for the suspenseful parts is all worth it.
Similar to A Quiet Place, this film builds up the story gradually. It dives into the character’s fears, prejudices, and obsessions, making them more relatable. It’s a movie about death and the hopelessness it brings. The ending will leave your mouth gaping with shock.
9. The Visit (2015)
English 1h 34m IMDb
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Stars: Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan
The film began as an innocent trip to grandma and grandpa’s house. A single mom left her two children to stay with their grandparents as she took a trip with her boyfriend. The eldest child, Becca, wanted to help her mom reconnect with her parents by creating a documentary.
However, the visit became a series of sinister events as the siblings discover their grandparent’s secrets. The quiet Pennsylvania farmhouse proved to be harboring disturbing activities by their grandparents.
“The Visit” proved to be another nailbiter in the tradition of M. Night Shyamalan films. Viewers applaud the jumpscares and scare tactics created by the prolific director. The plot twist is still surprising despite a fair amount of predictability.
Fans of Shyamalan would be glad to know he hasn’t lost his touch. This movie still presents his weird and crazy way of telling a chilling story.
10. Get Out (2017)
English 1h 44m IMDb
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford
Rose ( Allison Williams) invites her boyfriend (Daniel Kaluuya) to meet her parents at their home upstate. The weekend getaway started delicate and innocent. Chris perceived the parents’ unnatural accommodating behavior as their way of dealing with the interracial relationship.
However, a series of chilling discoveries and shocking revelations left him running for his life.
This movie, created by Jordan Peele, is a treat for horror genre lovers. Its creative plot and unique storytelling make it a must-watch. The audience has noticed that the pacing and the character development are similar to A Quiet Place.
The two movies have no unnecessary dialogues or scenes. The acting, cinematography, and production design were all exceptional. The activities and character motivation are somehow hard to understand at first. But, with some imagination, you’ll get the answers you’re looking for.
11. The Cabin in the Woods ( 2011)
English 1h 35m IMDb
Director: Drew Goddard
Stars: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison
Five friends head off to a remote cabin in the woods for a vacation. They did not know the terror that was waiting for them. Isolated from the world without any means of communication, the gang faces chilling happenings.
Backwoods zombies haunt and victimize the teenagers one by one. However, the horrific events do not end there. A team of scientists manipulates the scary circumstances. They have no plans of stopping despite the devastating deaths.
Many of this film’s viewers have expressed love for the movie. The production design, acting, and screenplay were excellent. It goes beyond the traditional horror genre by revealing myths from other cultures. It shares the same mystery of unknown forces with A Quiet Place.
Summary
The horror genre has evolved from the usual in-your-face blood and gore. Now it tackles post-apocalyptic creatures, unknown forces, and human frailties. If you’re looking for these characteristics, check out the 11 best movies like A Quiet Place. A bit of a warning, though, never watch alone.