Shhhhhh! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at small details, references, and subtle touches from the first two “Quiet Place” movies.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at small details, references, and subtle touches
00:13from the first two Quiet Place movies.
00:1510.
00:16A Nod to Jaws
00:21Jaws was one of several films that influenced John Krasinski while conceiving a Quiet Place.
00:26There are some evident parallels with both centering on small towns plagued by a largely
00:35unseen threat.
00:36Krasinski was notably inspired by police chief Martin Brody, who he described as a character
00:40scared to be a cop in New York, so he ran away from his fears to an island.
00:43The one thing he never wanted was a scary situation, and now it's surrounding him.
00:55A Quiet Place Part II pays homage to Brody during its opening flashback.
00:59Picking up snacks for his family, Lee passes several local businesses, including a restaurant
01:03called Brody's Pizzeria.
01:04If you missed this, then we guess the pizzeria is going to need a bigger sign.
01:099.
01:13Why the Abbotts Had Fireworks
01:14To distract the aliens while Evelyn gives birth, the Abbotts set off a fireworks display.
01:21It's a clever solution, but you might be wondering why they had fireworks to begin
01:27with.
01:28Outside of sparklers, they're not exactly easy to come by year-round.
01:30The answer resides on the Abbotts' calendar.
01:32Most of the first film takes place on October 3, day 473 of the invasion.
01:37That means the invasion would have commenced in mid-June, only a couple of weeks before
01:40the 4th of July.
01:46Chances are that the Abbotts stocked up on fireworks for the holiday.
01:49Either that, or somebody else in town had fireworks, which the Abbotts came across while
01:52searching for supply.
01:53In any case, it's a good thing this all started during the summer.
01:588.
02:04Real Family Photos
02:06It's no secret that John Krasinski and Emily Blunter married, bringing another layer of
02:09authenticity to Lee and Evelyn's relationship.
02:12While Krasinski didn't cast either of their daughters, he kept them close to the Abbott
02:15household.
02:16And by that, we don't mean he regularly brought them to the set.
02:19Krasinski adorned the farmhouse with actual photos of himself, Blunt, and their kids.
02:31The audience may have difficulty spotting these photos, but they were in plain sight
02:34for Krasinski and Blunt to look at.
02:36Blunt was initially hesitant to star in the film as it delved into her fear of not being
02:39able to protect her children.
02:41With photos of her daughters nearby, Blunt never lost sight of what Evelyn is fighting
02:44for.
02:477.
02:51From One Alien Movie to Another
02:52In space, no one can hear you scream.
02:54In a quiet place, there are plenty of people who can hear you scream, but that may mean
02:58certain death.
03:06Even so, you can definitely see the impact that Ridley Scott's Alien had on Krasinski.
03:27In addition to centering on lethal aliens, both films take place in confined areas, sending
03:31off claustrophobic vibes throughout.
03:34Krasinski paid direct tribute to Alien in A Quiet Place Part II, as the characters try
03:38to find the radio station where Beyond the Sea is being broadcast.
03:41They determine that the station is on a street called Nostromo.
03:44The street shares the same name as the space tug where Ellen Ripley and her crew got an
03:47unwanted visitor.
03:506.
03:52An Unspoken Last Name
03:53As popular as this franchise is, we bet you can stump the average viewer by asking what
03:57the central family's surname is.
04:10Any true fan can tell you that it's Abbott.
04:12Be honest, though.
04:13You probably didn't realize this until the credits rolled or you looked it up online.
04:16The name Abbott is never said out loud in either film.
04:18Although it's not heard, the name does pop up.
04:25As Reagan is leaving her family's property in the first movie, she passes by their mailbox.
04:29Two things stand out about this background detail.
04:311.
04:32The family hasn't gotten mail in a while, and for good reason.
04:342.
04:35Abbott is written across the mailbox.
04:36For many, it's a blink and you'll miss it moment, but eagle-eyed viewers got the
04:39message.
04:425.
04:44The Aliens Don't Eat Their Prey
04:57Here's another trivia question that'll test how well you know this franchise.
05:00When the aliens attack people, do they eat them?
05:02It's hard to say at first glance, seeing how many of the deaths go by in a flash with
05:05the aftermath rarely shown.
05:07Consulting the Abbott's whiteboard, though, you'll notice, why don't they eat their
05:10kill listed under questions?
05:12This confirms that the aliens aren't hunting for sustenance.
05:21They're reacting to the noises they hear as a defense mechanism.
05:23If it makes a sound, it's a threat.
05:25Once that threat is silenced, the aliens have no use for the leftovers.
05:28As for whether or not the aliens need to eat, that's a question not even the diehard fans
05:32have a definitive answer to… yet.
05:434.
05:47Echoes of the Office
05:48Lee Abbott might be Krasinski's most famous film role, but on the small screen, he's
05:52best known as Jim Halpert.
05:53While Krasinski left Dunder Mifflin behind in A Quiet Place, he references his sitcom
05:57roots a couple of times.
05:58In the first film, Lee and Evelyn share an intimate moment listening to Harvest Moon
06:02by Neil Young.
06:03It's reminiscent of a scene from The Office when Jim and Pam share headphones in the parking
06:06lot.
06:15That's not the only connection between Lee and Jim.
06:17In A Quiet Place Part II, Regan points to an island on a map.
06:20Just off to the left is Stamford, Connecticut, where Jim was transferred to in Season 3.
06:24Why did I transfer to Stamford?
06:26I think that's pretty obvious.
06:30I got promoted.
06:31We wonder how long Michael Scott would have survived in this franchise.
06:363.
06:39More than one use for the red lights
06:40Whether it's a traffic light or an alarm going off, we all associate the color red
06:44with danger.
06:55When Evelyn goes into labor, she flips the switch, letting the family know it's time.
06:59One might assume that's the only purpose the red light's hanging around the Abbott
07:02Farm, sir.
07:03They aren't merely a warning sign, however.
07:04When the lights are turned on, they set off a high-pitched sound that a person might not
07:07notice.
07:08But a noise-sensitive alien will.
07:13Although this is inclined to attract the aliens to the red lights, it will also help
07:17to keep them outside of the Abbott House.
07:18For an enemy that can hear all yet see nothing, it doesn't hurt to keep the Christmas lights
07:22up.
07:252.
07:28Clever ways of keeping quiet
07:30Assuming noise-sensitive aliens ever do invade, A Quiet Place is full of survival tips.
07:34None of them are spelled out, however.
07:35They're all demonstrated visually.
07:37Aside from supplying exposition, the newspapers plastered on the walls help to reduce sound.
07:41Instead of a washer and dryer, Evelyn uses a clothesline for laundry.
07:45Sand trails can help silence your steps, especially when walking barefoot.
07:55During suppertime, green leaves and your hands are silent substitutes for plates and silverware.
07:59Feel free to entertain the family with board games, just remember to replace the Monopoly
08:02pieces with soft items and keep the dice on the carpet.
08:09Don't even bother with doors, although if you need something to keep the aliens out,
08:20a mattress will do.
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08:391.
08:41No noisy foods allowed
08:42The original film opens with the Abbots searching a general store for supplies.
08:46This clearly isn't their first trip, as most of the shelves have been picked clean.
08:49Several shelves are still full, although you can see why the Abbots haven't touched them.
08:53They're lined with chips and other snacks that you wouldn't want to munch on while
08:56trying to keep a low profile.
08:57Even if you lived long enough to open the bag, an alien would strike before you had
09:01a chance to take a bite.
09:02As such, the Abbots lived on cooked vegetables and preserved fruit rather than Doritos.
09:09At least the Apocalypse is good for dieting.
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