Released in 2018, A Quiet Place became an instant smash hit, earning $340.9 million worldwide. The movie, starring and directed by John Krasinski, put The Office actor on the map as one of the most exciting upcoming directors, with the success of the first film leading him also to direct the sequel, A Quiet Place Part II. Michael Sarnoski then took over for the third film in the franchise, the prequel A Quiet Place: Day One. Krasinski will return as director for the upcoming movie, A Quiet Place Part III, tentatively set for a July 2027 release.
Krasinski has been involved throughout the franchise, whether as director, writer, or actor, which has significantly helped give the films a cohesive vision and a set of rules for their creatures. With each release, viewers learn a bit more about the creatures that hunt by sound. To piece together everything that has happened throughout the franchise, you have to look at the bigger picture. Here is everything we know about the creatures from A Quiet Place.
What Are the Creatures From ‘A Quiet Place’ and Where Did They Come From?
Much of the backstory of the creatures from A Quiet Place was revealed early on, as part of the film’s promotion, with John Krasinski himself giving some insight. Notably, in a 2018 podcast for Empire, he would clarify the creatures’ alien origins:
“They are absolutely aliens. They’re from another planet. Where I developed the idea of them and what I wanted them to look like was most alien movies are about takeovers, agendas, they’re a thinking alien creature, and for me this idea of a predator, this idea of a parasite, this idea of something that is introduced into an ecosystem.”
While it seems Krasinski had an idea of what the creatures were from the early stages of the franchise, the prequel Day One would provide more details about their origins. Notably, fans learned that the planet they came from had been destroyed and that the aliens survived by clinging to meteors that eventually crashed onto Earth, leading to one of the most terrifying visions of an alien invasion.
The creatures have never officially been given a name, yet, due to the fandom, they have been dubbed ‘Death Angels’ for their pale appearance and wing-like heads. This term has stuck, and collectively, when discussing the aliens/monsters, the majority has accepted the ‘Death Angel’ moniker.
What Are the Death Angel’s Special Abilities, and What Are Their Weaknesses?
Arguably, the most frightening thing about the Death Angels is their ability to hunt by sound. This ability is often the focus of many of the franchise’s most terrifying moments, forcing the few human survivors to continually worry about making any noise, however slight. Yet, there is much more to even the creature’s sense of hearing.
Here is every character trait that the Death Angels have that makes them such terrifying hunters:
- Super Hearing & Audio Tracking: The creatures’ hearing is phenomenal, allowing them to track their victims from afar. More essential to their ability to hunt, they use sound to map out their surroundings and avoid obstacles.
- Physical Strength & Agility: Death Angels are robust and agile creatures. Their speed makes them nearly impossible to outrun, their strength allows them to rip through obstacles, and they can climb most surfaces with ease.
- Biological Traits: The creatures have tough exoskeletons that make them bulletproof. Day One reveals that some survive meteor impacts and reentry, and that they come in different sizes and strengths.
- Behavioral Traits: Death Angels are relentless hunters that never seem to grow fatigued. Multiple creatures hunt together when focusing on the same sound.
The Death Angels are formidable foes; seldom does a human being encounter one and live, but this does not mean they are invincible or lack weaknesses. As creatures who are very focused on hunting by sound, high frequencies can confuse or repel them, as first revealed in A Quiet Place Part II. Alternatively, loud sounds can be used to lure them into a trap. While nearly impenetrable, they do have one weak spot; their head plates reveal a vulnerable area when open. Finally, Day One would show that the Death Angels are unable to swim and will drown.
The lore behind the alien invaders is likely to grow, with talks of an international spin-off and an upcoming Chapter III. Still, while there are ways to defeat the Death Angels and more info to learn, avoiding them is always the best approach.
How to Avoid the Death Angels in ‘A Quiet Place’
When it comes to A Quiet Place, silence is golden, and those who want to survive need to think of ways to mask sound. Walking barefoot whenever possible, or ensuring that a safe space is fully soundproofed, is essential; creaky floors or doors can be a death sentence. Communication with others always occurs through sign language rather than verbal cues.
While silence is essential to survival, using sound strategically also helps keep one safe. Creatures can be disoriented by sound, and even in the first film, natural sounds help mask human noise. Notably, a waterfall serves as part of a strategic escape route, with its constant noise masking human movement. While not established until Day One, a waterfall also offers some safety, given the creatures’ inability to swim.
Although the creatures appear more terrifying at night, they are not necessarily more active; throughout the franchise, they hunt at all times of day and remain relentless. Open spaces are best avoided, as sound travels farther, and they make it nearly impossible for a person to hide or escape once spotted.
Where to Watch All the Films in the ‘A Quiet Place’ Franchise
The best way to get familiar with the frightening creatures in A Quiet Place is by checking out the movies for yourself. Both fans and critics highly rate the first two films, and while the third faltered slightly in generating the same hype, it offers a lot of background on the monsters, which is essential to understanding how they work. Thankfully, it is easy to stream the entire franchise, as A Quiet Place, A Quiet Place Part II, and A Quiet Place: Day One are all available to stream on Paramount+.
- Release Date
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April 6, 2018
- Runtime
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90 Minutes
- Producers
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Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Celia D. Costas, Michael Bay, Allyson Seeger