Although Hidden may not be well known, at least not as popular as the series that the writers/directors/producers would go on to create, the Duffers Brothers explore similar themes as their hit Netflix series. Hidden is about a family hoping to survive a terrible zombie outbreak and the characters never waver in their love for one another. There are elements of Hidden that are reminiscent of Stranger Things, which proves the talents of the Duffer Brothers and makes this horror film a must watch.
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Hidden may be a forgotten 2010s horror movie but it definitely deserves to be watched. The story has echoes of A Quiet Place as Claire (Andrea Riseborough) and Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) live in a bomb shelter with their daughter Zoe (Emily Alyn Lind) and try not to make any noise. They don’t want to draw attention to themselves and hope that their worst nightmare doesn’t come true. Zoe calls the zombies “Breathers,” which is a memorable and terrifying detail. Just like how Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) hopes to protect her kids at all costs in Stranger Things, Claire and Ray want to keep Zoe safe.
Hidden will remind Stranger Things fans of the popular series in a few different ways, namely that it has a tough, unforgettable child character and a well-done ending. The best characters in Stranger Things season 4 include Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the rest of her friends. There are hints of Eleven in Zoe because although Zoe is a kid and still innocent, Zoe often takes the lead and helps protect her parents. It’s interesting that Zoe is the one who decides that people who are infected should be referred to as Breathers. She’s wise and seems to have an innate understanding of what’s going on. As her parents attempting to stay calm while obviously freaking out, Zoe feels that she has what it takes to figure this mess out.
Zoe has a can-do attitude the whole movie, doing what needs to be done such as making a periscope and seeing Breathers approaching the family from far away. While there are many horror and thriller films that focus on families trying to get through a zombie outbreak or weather disaster or something of that nature, Hidden stands out because Zoe is a thrilling character to watch. Sometimes horror films about families can feel generic, but Zoe’s love for her parents is sweet and it’s easy to imagine the three characters having a great time together in a better, safer setting.
The ending of Hidden is also worth noting, and while it’s so sad that it might not be a satisfying horror movie ending, it does feel like the only logical conclusion. Claire and Zoe are infected with the disease that is causing people to turn into Breathers and they say goodbye to Ray. Ray’s death is as sad as Lee Abbott (John Krasinski) dying to save his children in A Quiet Place. In both movies, it’s heartbreaking but feels right that the mom characters are left to finish the job of keeping their kids safe. Claire in Hidden and Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) in A Quiet Place are forced to become tougher than they ever wanted to be thanks to their terrible situations.
The best Stranger Things quotes are funny and intelligent and prove the Duffers Brothers have a talent for telling smart, heartfelt, and thrilling stories. Hidden and Stranger Things have something else in common: the stakes remain high for every character, no matter what. The family in Hidden’s survival is never a given considering the incredible odds they would have to beat in order to not become infected. This is similar to how Eleven and the other main characters have to survive the Upside Down in Stranger Things.
Zoe’s smart personality helps elevate Hidden beyond typical movies about the same subject. While it’s not a movie that twists the mythos of zombies, as the events of the story are fairly straightforward, Zoe is such a great character that every Stranger Things fan needs to watch Hidden. It hits all the marks of a fun movie about characters who are trying to protect one another while attempting to survive against all odds. It’s easy to compare the movie’s setting to Hawkins and the Upside Down, proving that the Duffers Brothers know how to craft a solid story.
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