A Quiet Place: Top 10 Hidden Details You Probably Missed

“Jaws” was one of several films that influenced John Krasinski while conceiving “A Quiet Place.” There are some evident parallels with both centering on small towns plagued by a largely unseen threat. Krasinski was notably inspired by police chief Martin Brody, who he described as a character “scared to be a cop in New York, so he ran away from his fears to an island. The one thing he never wanted was a scary situation, and it’s now surrounding him.” “A Quiet Place Part II” pays homage to Brody during its opening flashback. Picking up snacks for his family, Lee passes several local businesses, including a restaurant called Brody’s Pizzeria. If you missed this, then we guess the pizzeria is gonna need a bigger sign.

To distract the aliens while Evelyn gives birth, the Abbotts set off a fireworks display. It’s a clever solution, but you might be wondering why they had fireworks to begin with. Outside of sparklers, they’re not exactly easy to come by year-round. The answer resides on the Abbotts’ calendar. Most of the first film takes place on October 3, Day 473 of the invasion. That means the invasion would’ve commenced in mid-June, only a couple of weeks before the Fourth of July. Chances are that the Abbotts stocked up on fireworks for the holiday. Either that or somebody else in town had fireworks, which the Abbotts came across while searching for supplies. In any case, it’s a good thing this all started during the summer.

It’s no secret that John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are married, bringing another layer of authenticity to Lee and Evelyn’s relationship. While Krasinski didn’t cast either of their daughters, he kept them close to the Abbott household. And by that, we don’t mean he regularly brought them to the set. Krasinski adorned the farmhouse with actual photos of himself, Blunt, and their kids. The audience may have difficulty spotting these photos, but they were in plain sight for Krasinski and Blunt to look at. Blunt was initially hesitant to star in the film, as it delved into her fear of “not being able to protect [her] children.” With photos of her daughters nearby, Blunt never lost sight of what Evelyn is fighting for.

In space, no one can hear you scream. In “A Quiet Place,” there are plenty of people who can hear you scream, but that may mean certain death. Even so, you can definitely see the impact that Ridley Scott’s “Alien” had on Krasinski. In addition to centering on lethal aliens, both films take place in confined areas, sending off claustrophobic vibes throughout. Krasinski paid direct tribute to “Alien” in “A Quiet Place Part II” as the characters try to find the radio station where “Beyond the Sea” is being broadcast. They determine that the station is on a street called Nostromo. The street shares the same name as the space tug where Ellen Ripley and her crew got an unwanted visitor.

As popular as this franchise is, we bet you can stump the average viewer by asking what the central family’s surname is. Any true fan can tell you that it’s Abbott. Be honest, though. You probably didn’t realize this until the credits rolled or you looked it up online. The name Abbott is never said out loud in either film. Although it’s not heard, the name does pop up. As Regan is leaving her family’s property in the first movie, she passes by their mailbox. Two things stand out about this background detail. 1) The family hasn’t gotten mail in a while, and for good reason. 2) “Abbott” is written across the mailbox. For many, it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but eagle-eyed viewers got the message.

Here’s another trivia question that’ll test how well you know this franchise. When the aliens attack people, do they eat them? It’s hard to say at first glance, seeing how many of the deaths go by in a flash with the aftermath rarely shown. Consulting the Abbotts’ whiteboard, though, you’ll notice, “Why don’t they eat their kill,” listed under questions. This confirms that the aliens aren’t hunting for sustenance. They’re reacting to the noises they hear as a defense mechanism. If it makes a sound, it’s a threat. Once that threat is silenced, the aliens have no use for the leftovers. As for whether or not the aliens need to eat, that’s a question not even the diehard fans have a definitive answer to… yet.

Lee Abbott might be Krasinski’s most famous film role, but on the small screen, he’s best known as Jim Halpert. While Krasinski left Dunder Mifflin behind in “A Quiet Place,” he references his sitcom roots a couple of times. In the first film, Lee and Evelyn share an intimate moment listening to “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young. It’s reminiscent of a scene from “The Office” when Jim and Pam share headphones in the parking lot. That’s not the only connection between Lee and Jim. In “A Quiet Place Part II,” Regan points to an island on a map. Just off to the left is Stamford, Connecticut where Jim was transferred to in Season 3. We wonder how long Michael Scott would’ve survived in this franchise.

Whether it’s a traffic light or an alarm going off, we all associate the color red with danger. When Evelyn goes into labor, she flips the switch, letting the family know it’s time. One might assume that’s the only purpose the red lights hanging around the Abbott farm serve. They aren’t merely a warning sign, however. When the lights are turned on, they set off a high-pitched sound that a person might not notice, but a noise-sensitive alien will. Although this is inclined to attract the aliens to the red lights, it will also help to keep them outside of the Abbott house. For an enemy that can hear all yet see nothing, it doesn’t hurt to keep the Christmas light up.

Assuming noise-sensitive aliens ever do invade, “A Quiet Place” is full of survival tips. None of them are spelled out, however. They’re all demonstrated visually. Aside from supplying exposition, the newspapers plastered on the walls help to reduce sound. Instead of a washer and dryer, Evelyn uses a clothesline for laundry. Sand trails can help silence your steps, especially when walking barefoot. During suppertime, green leaves and your hands are silent substitutes for plates and silverware. Feel free to entertain the family with board games. Just remember to replace the Monopoly pieces with soft items and keep the dice on the carpet. Don’t even bother with doors, although if you need something to keep the aliens out, a mattress will do.

The original film opens with the Abbotts searching a general store for supplies. This clearly isn’t their first trip, as most of the shelves have been picked clean. Several shelves are still full, although you can see why the Abbotts haven’t touched them. They’re lined with chips and other snacks that you wouldn’t want to munch on while trying to keep a low profile. Even if you lived long enough to open the bag, an alien would strike before you had a chance to take a bite. As such, the Abbotts live on cooked vegetables and preserved fruit rather than Doritos. At least the apocalypse is good for dieting. It’s one of the many small pieces of worldbuilding that manage to speak volumes.