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The ‘Quiet Place’ Franchise: A Leap and the Need for Mystery

2024-11-18

The ‘Quiet Place’ franchise has truly made a significant stride this year. Now, it faces the challenge of avoiding a common horror movie misstep by adhering to one crucial rule: Keep the monsters mysterious. Paramount Pictures/Ringer illustration showcases this concept vividly.

Transformative Year for 'A Quiet Place'

In the entertainment world, franchises have had a big year. The top 12 movies at the global box office are sequels, and Moana 2 and Gladiator II are set to join them. 'A Quiet Place: Day One', the prequel that came out in late June, may not be among the most lucrative sequels, but it has had a transformative year. The series expanded, showing that its potential staying power is significant. With the addition of 'Day One', the movies moved from a single family-focused series to a more open-ended saga with a winning formula and reasonable budgets. 'Day One' had a record opening and was profitable enough to be a success, and the release of 'A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead' as a video game further expanded the franchise. There are more 'A Quiet Place' contents on the way, including 'A Quiet Place Part III' and potential expansions into non-US markets and the small screen.

Restricted Story Scope

The makers of 'A Quiet Place' have kept the story's scope narrow. The franchise focuses on a single family and has short running times, with all movies set in New York. The character tropes are also limited, like Alex Taylor in 'The Road Ahead' being a hybrid of Evelyn Abbott and Samira. The most notable aspect is the secrecy around the Demogorgon-esque adversaries. We know they are blind, have acute hearing and echolocation, are agile and strong, and have two main vulnerabilities. But beyond that, they remain enigmas. The lore about them mainly comes from an interview with John Krasinski in 2018. We know they came from outer space but not much else.

Less Lore is More in Horror

In horror, less lore is often better. Take the Smoke Monster from 'Lost'. It was most fascinating in the series premiere when we didn't know what it was. Eventually, when answers came, the payoff couldn't compare. The same goes for other horror franchises like 'Predator' and 'Alien: Covenant'. 'Predator' was at its best with a simple premise, and 'Alien: Covenant' overdid the exposition. In 'A Quiet Place', keeping the monsters mysterious adds to the fear.

Glimpses into the Monsters' Diet

In 'Day One', there is a tense scene where Eric discovers a monster hot spot. It looks like a farm-to-table eatery, and the monster cracks open an egg-like growth, suggesting a possible diet. This hints at one of the franchise's unknowns but doesn't overindulge in alien lore. Sarnoski compared the aliens to leafcutter ants, adding an intriguing element without spoiling the mystery.

The Importance of Mystery

The main focus of 'A Quiet Place' is its characters. As Sarnoski said, Krasinski's films are family dramas at heart. The franchise works when the extraterrestrial terrors seem alien. By keeping some secrets, like how the monsters got to Earth and their true nature, the franchise can maintain its longevity. Eventually, it may face challenges like 'The Walking Dead', but for now, it can continue to explore new territory while keeping the monsters mysterious.In conclusion, the 'Quiet Place' franchise has a lot of potential, but it must keep the monsters mysterious to ensure its success and longevity.