In a universe brought to life by John Krasinski, the world ends not with a bang but with a whisper thanks to the hair-raising breath-snatching horror movie “A Quiet Place.” Set after the events of an alien invasion in which its attackers use sound to hunt their prey, the former “Office” worker’s directorial debut makes for a brilliant and unique introduction into a sci-fi horror opposite his real-life wife, Emily Blunt, who gives an equally enthralling performance. Its success led to an impressive sequel and prequel fleshing out the Quiet Place timeline, ensuring that there are always stories to tell, just as long as they’re behind soundproof walls.

Those who think Matt Reeves’ “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” is the strongest of the revived franchise will find a place in Krasinski’s frightening initial chapter. The first film pits a family against a monstrous enemy that, unlike the apes, can’t be negotiated with. Sure, Caesar might want to be at peace with the human race he’s divided and eventually sent into decline, but “A Quiet Place” shows its outright destruction thanks to these space monkey-like creatures with biological radars for heads.

Forced to traverse this nightmarish land barefoot and speak in sign language, the Abbott family’s safe haven falling under attack never gets old and makes our first carefully placed steps into this unique and heartbreakingly brutal world a brilliant one. Just like the Apes franchise, even amidst the chaos, there’s something about these characters who just want to survive together and suffer great losses fighting to do so. Whatever the future holds for the hair-raising world of “A Quiet Place,” never forget that you heard it here first.