‘A Quiet Place’ Almost Joined an Unexpected Horror Monster Franchise

What if I told you that two standout creature features of the 21st century share a unique connection? In 2008, ‘Cloverfield’, directed by Matt Reeves, revolutionized the found footage genre by blending it with a colossal creature disaster film.

A decade later, John Krasinski made his mark with ‘A Quiet Place’ (2018), a distinct alien invasion thriller that diverged from found footage but captivated audiences with its concept of sound-sensitive monsters. Interestingly, ‘A Quiet Place’ was initially conceived by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods as a potential addition to the Cloverfield universe.

Also Read: ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Review: Is The Prequel Better or Worse?

‘Cloverfield’ originated from J.J. Abrams’ vision to create an American Godzilla, produced under his Bad Robot banner. Despite Matt Reeves’ limited directorial background at the time, the film became a box office hit, grossing $172 million globally against a $25 million budget. Instead of following with a straightforward sequel, Abrams expanded the ‘Cloverfield’ universe with 2016’s ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ and the less successful ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’.

In the case of ‘A Quiet Place’, John Krasinski’s involvement reshaped the script originally crafted by Beck and Woods. They conceived a horror film where sound functions akin to the shark in ‘Jaws,’ aiming to create a modern silent film experience. Initially pitched as a ‘Cloverfield’ crossover, Paramount Pictures recognized the script’s potential and opted to develop ‘A Quiet Place’ as a standalone project.

Krasinski, known for his roles in ‘The Office’ and smaller-scale films, stepped into directing with ‘A Quiet Place’, delivering a narrative centred not just on monsters but on a family navigating grief and survival. The film’s success, earning $340 million worldwide on a $17 million budget, highlighted its innovative premise and character-driven storytelling, paving the way for the sequel ‘A Quiet Place: Part II’.

Choosing to keep ‘A Quiet Place’ separate from ‘Cloverfield’ allowed it the creative freedom to explore its unique premise without the constraints of an existing franchise. This decision proved pivotal in crafting a tense, emotionally resonant film that resonated with audiences worldwide and established its own franchise trajectory.

–Farheen Ali