When it was released in 2018, A Quiet Place became one of the biggest surprise hits of that year. Directed by John Krasinski, the film was set in the aftermath of a global attack by deadly monsters who hunt their prey based on sound. The premise made for an almost dialogue-free thriller that had audiences on the edge of their seats the whole time.
That level of suspense is hard to pull off in films, but it can be so rewarding when done well.
Updated on June 23rd, 2021 by Colin McCormick: After a number of delays, fans finally got a chance to see the next installment of this franchise with the release of A Quiet Place Part II. The movie continues to explore the struggle for survival in a world in which any sound can be deadly. Given that the sequel more than lived up to the incredible suspense of the first movie, it makes sense to look at some of the other great movies that put audiences on the edge of their seats and cause them to hold their breath.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Oscar-winning thriller between intelligent characters feel pulse-pounding with suspense. The whole movie has a foreboding quality but as soon as Hannibal Lecter is introduced, the audience is immediately put on edge.
The quid pro quo scenes between Lecter and Clarice Starling make the exchange of words feel incredibly intense. Anthony Hopkins's performance is so chilling that Lecter feels like a threat despite being in prison the whole movie. And of course, there is the infamous night-vision chase scene at the end which is a masterful sequence of making the audience squirm.
The Shining (1980)
Despite what Stephen King himself thinks of the adaptation, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is seen as one of the greatest horror movies of all time. With an iconic performance from Jack Nicholson, the movie uses its isolated setting to brilliant use.
The movie might be less violent and boasts a smaller body count than most of these other movies, it is Nicholson's gradual descent into violence that delivers the suspense. Kubrick's willingness to let the tension build in drawn-out moments is incredibly effective.
It Follows (2014)
With one of the most interesting horror movie premises in recent memory, It Follows has become a modern masterpiece of the genre. It sets up the idea of a deadly supernatural threat who can look like anyone and that slowly pursues its target until catching and killing them.
The movie makes the sight of a person slowly walking towards the main character a terrifying sight. There is the feeling that the threat could be anyone and could come out of anywhere. Before long, the audience feels the same unrelenting terror as the main character.
Hereditary (2018)
Aris Aster has quickly established himself as one of the most interesting horror movie directors. His first movie, Hereditary, is another instant classic that is as uncomfortable for its family drama aspects as it is for its supernatural horror elements.
The movie follows a family devastated by a tragedy, but as they deal with their grief, they are haunted by an evil force. The raw emotion of the movie makes everything feel tense only to explode in small yet terrifying ways as the evil spirit reveals itself.
The Invisible Man (2020)
A The Invisible Man is a rare movie that makes the empty space in the screen feel unsettling. Elizabeth Moss stars as a woman who escapes an abusive relationship only to suspect her former boyfriend has found a way to become invisible and stalk her.
The question of whether or not someone else is in the room hangs over every scene. Moments of the camera panning to an empty chair are as effective as when the unseen villain makes his presence more deliberately known.
Don't Breathe (2016)
The threat at the center of Don't Breathe is very similar to the one in A Quiet Place. But perhaps more unsettling is that the monster in Don't Breathe is human. The thriller follows a group of young adults who, out of desperation, attempt to rob the home of a blind man. Once inside the house, the man proves to be more terrifying than they ever could have imagined.
Watching this deadly and formidable manhunt these kids throughout his house as they attempt to remain quiet is incredibly unnerving. The movie keeps the audience locked in with clever sequences and disturbing reveals.
Sicario (2015)
On the surface, Sicario seems like a fairly typical crime film, but director Denis Villeneuve infuses it with nonstop tension from beginning to end. It centers around a determined FBI agent (Emily Blunt) who s a covert government ops mission to battle a Mexican cartel. However, the mission soon becomes something bigger than she imagined.
There is a dread that hangs over every scene of the film, causing the audience to expect something terrible to happen at any moment. This creates a feeling of danger that serves the story wonderfully.
Sorcerer (1977)
This thriller from director William Friedkin (The Exorcist) was considered a financial disaster when it was released in 1977 but has since gone on to be considered a cult classic. It is also well-known for being one of the most nail-biting films of all time.
Set in a remote area of South America, the film follows a group of desperate men who agree to drive a shipment of highly explosive nitroglycerin across the unpredictable terrain. What follows is a surreal and epic adventure that will leave anyone breathless.
The Descent (2005)
Stemming from childhood, everybody seems to have a natural fear of the dark. That feeling of not being alone in the darkness is exploited expertly in The Descent. The film follows a group of girls who go spelunking together and come across grotesque flesh-eating creatures living in the depths of the caves.
The movie's setting provides some of the best jump-scares in horror history and presents a feeling of unease throughout the story. A strong story and excellent character work help to make it something really special.
Green Room (2015)
Any movie that can turn Patrick Stewart into a terrifying neo-Nazi deserves a great deal of respect. Green Room follows a punk rock band who reluctantly takes a gig at a skinhead camp, but after making a shocking discovery, they find themselves trapped and hunted.
The movie throws the characters and audience into a claustrophobic setting from which there seems to be no escape. The violence is shocking and brutal in how quickly it happens. It is the kind of movie that will keeps fans up at night.
