A Quiet Place is out in theaters and you should definitely see it (read FANDOM’s review). The premise — creatures that hunt people by sound — has got us thinking of some other films and television episodes that might make good companion pieces.
Here are six movies and TV episodes you can watch before you see A Quiet Place. Or, watch them after you see the movie. Either way, these are worth tracking down.
“Hush” – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
This classic episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer introduces the monsters known as the Gentlemen. These terrifying beings would suck out the voices of everyone in the town they visited and then steal the hearts of seven unlucky victims. It turns out that they were invulnerable to any form of attack except for the screams of humans.
It’s a great conceit as the second half of the episode has to play out with no dialogue from our main characters. If you only watch one episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, make it this one.
Don’t Breathe
The surprise horror hit centers around a trio of thieves who break into the house of a retired veteran in order to steal his supposed fortune. Turns out that the guy is blind and the group thinks that will only make things easier. Big mistake. When the tables get turned, the thieves have to do everything they can to stay hidden and escape before they become victims themselves.
Don’t Breathe is an ugly but effective little thrill ride that uses its silence extremely well. Add to that a story that continues to be full of shocking twists and you’ve got a recipe for a killer movie.
Dead Silence
Before he conquered the world of ghosts with The Conjuring, James Wan helmed this eerie little flick about the ghost of a ventriloquist who haunts the small town of Ravens Fair (funny note: the town’s motto is “A quiet place to live.”). In the film, the spirit of Mary Shaw will kill you if you scream when you see her. So, much like A Quiet Place, the characters have to stay silent if they want to survive.
Dead Silence is a creepy little bit of spookhouse fun. If you’ve liked The Conjuring or its many spinoffs and sequels, this is one worth seeking out.
“The Silence” – The Twilight Zone
In A Quiet Place, silence means survival. But, what if staying silent for an entire year meant winning $500,000? That’s the premise of The Twilight Zone episode “The Silence.” A loudmouth aristocrat is locked in a basement for a year and observed to see if he can actually remain completely silent for 365 days. If he does, he wins the money. It’s a simple idea that goes much farther than you might think.
“The Silence” is a solid episode of the classic television series and well worth your time. Start thinking about what the twist is going to be!
Hush
Boy, the word “hush” sure is popular today! Well, in the film Hush, it’s a very different scenario than anything else on this list. In this story, the protagonist is a woman who not only can’t speak but also can’t hear. For her, silence is the only world she knows. That’s quite the disadvantage when she is besieged by a masked killer who breaks into her house and begins to torment her.
Hush is a small but surprisingly efficient little horror movie that takes its core idea and uses it to its fullest. Watch it when you’re home alone for maximum scariness.
Tremors
If there is one movie that A Quiet Place definitely riffs on, it’s this. Tremors is a creature-feature classic about a small Nevada town that gets attacked by underground monsters that hunt their prey by sensing the vibrations they make on the ground. It’s a fantastic concept that’s populated by a slew of lovable characters and tremendous special effects.
Though Tremors is definitely much lighter and more fun in tone than A Quiet Place, it’s still a vital film for anyone who loves creature features. And A Quiet Place is definitely going to turn a few viewers into creature-feature fans.
