Why The Waterfall From A Quiet Place Has Fans Scratching Their Heads
The 2018 movie "A Quiet Place," directed by John Krasinksi, is a horror film that takes place in the aftermath of an alien invasion. To survive, humans must live in almost absolute silence because the creatures who have overrun the planet are drawn to even the slightest noise. The story centers around the Abbott family, who are grieving the loss of one of their children and preparing for the birth of another. The family's patriarch Lee (Krasinski) spends any free moment trying to figure out how to defeat the monsters.
"A Quiet Place" became a huge hit, raking in almost $341 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo) and spawned the sequel "A Quiet Place Part II," which picks up immediately following Lee's death. Paramount has given a third film the green light based on a story idea by Krasinski, who will not be directing. The movie is slated to hit theaters in 2023 (via Variety).
While "A Quiet Place" is nearly flawless in its storytelling, fans have repeatedly pointed out one major plot hole in the "A Quiet Place." When Lee takes his son Marcus (Noah Jupe) fishing, he explains it's okay to make noise as long as there's something louder nearby. The two take shelter behind a waterfall where Lee shouts to prove his point, the thunderous sound of the waterfall drowning out Lee's scream. This scene led fans to question why the Abbotts didn't choose to live closer to water which would have provided more protection from the aliens
Why didn't the Abbotts move close to the water?
An assortment of media outlets, including Screen Rant, addressed the plot hole. The Abbotts abandoning their farm in favor of waterside accommodations seems like a no-brainer. However, there are several reasons why this isn't a viable option. Where would the family of four (almost five) live? In a hollowed-out tree? A cave? Under a pile of leaves? The waterfall is surrounded by wilderness, leaving the Abbotts exposed to the inevitable wrath of Mother Nature as well as having nowhere to hide if one of those creatures stumbles across their path. The Abbotts' farm is full of the necessary resources to survive, with the family living largely off their land. To access supplies would mean multiple trips back and forth, putting them in danger every time they stray too far from the water.
Lee and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) are trying to give their children some sense of normalcy and routine with board games and sitting around the table for family dinners. He constructs a security system that allows him to see his farm from every angle. He has the electricity he needs to run a radio and use tools. One of Lee's goals was to locate other survivors without putting himself or his wife and children at unnecessary risk to find them. None of this setup would have been possible out in the wilderness.
Leaving home didn't make sense for the Abbotts
Perhaps the biggest reason for the Abbotts' refusal to leave their home is that staying put is a way of grieving the loss of their son Beau (Cade Woodward). In one scene, Evelyn enters the house and visits Beau's old room, her pain is palpable as she sits and sobs surrounded by toys and memories. Remaining near their house keeps the Abbotts tethered to the happy, normal life they once had. With the world falling apart around them, there is a sentimental attachment to the one place they consider safe despite all of the obstacles.
There are plenty of ways to find plot holes in a horror movie that requires complete silence for survival. The Abbotts are more fortunate than most since they can communicate using sign language, something that is second nature to the family due to daughter Regan's (Millicent Simmonds) deafness. Ultimately, Evelyn, Regan, and Marcus have no choice but to flee their home with a newborn baby in tow, but living by a waterfall was not going to increase the Abbotts' chances of survival. The scene allows Lee and his son to have a conversation offering insight into the complex emotional dynamic between Lee and Regan.