The Silence of the Marsh

Cavers exploring an uncharted subterranean system beneath Pennsylvania's Appalachian Trail inadvertently open a vast chamber. This chamber contains countless prehistoric bats that begin to swarm due to loud noises, leading to the development of the deadly creatures known as 'vesps.'

In Montclair, New Jersey, Hugh Andrews and his family learn about the deadly vesps through a television broadcast. This report reveals the urgency of staying quiet and the global chaos emerging from the epidemic, prompting Hugh and his family to consider fleeing the city.

Faced with the growing threat of the vesps, Hugh, his wife Kelly, their deaf daughter Ally, their son Jude, and Kelly's mother Lynn, decide to leave Montclair. They are joined by Glenn, Hugh's longtime best friend, and head out in two vehicles to escape the impending danger.

During the drive away from the city, Ally uses her iPad to FaceTime her crush Rob, keeping in touch amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, the family learns to navigate their new reality as they head towards safety, unaware of the danger that lies ahead.

While stopping at a gas station, the family faces a life-threatening situation when Glenn is forced to shoot an armed assailant who attempts to carjack their vehicle. This tense moment underscores the desperation of their escape as they navigate both human and creature threats.

A traffic jam pushes Hugh and Glenn to leave the main road and drive off an embankment to avoid a deer stampede. Glenn's vehicle overturns, trapping him inside, and this moment becomes a critical turning point as they must decide their next steps without him.

Hugh's family becomes frantic as vesps swarm their vehicle, drawn by their noise and panic. In a heroic act, Glenn sacrifices himself by firing his weapon to distract the vesps, allowing Hugh and the family a chance to escape.

After abandoning their noisy vehicle, the family hikes into a nearby forest. They stumble upon a fenced cabin compound but soon face danger when an elderly owner is killed by the vesps after she tries to confront them with a shotgun.

In a bid to escape the fences surrounding the cabin, Hugh and his family crawl through a drain tunnel. However, their efforts are met with more peril as a hissing rattlesnake nearby attracts the relentless vesps, leading to serious injuries.

Hugh urgently activates a wood chipper to draw the attacking swarm of vesps away from his family. The strategic decision results in the vesps meeting their demise, allowing the family some reprieve amidst the chaos unfolding around them.

Kelly sustains severe injuries and becomes infected, necessitating urgent medical supplies. Hugh and Ally venture into a deserted town, facing more vesps and unforeseen dangers in their desperate quest to save Kelly's life.

In their search for supplies, Hugh and Ally encounter a mysterious man named 'The Reverend.' He tries to recruit them into his cult, 'The Hushed,' but the pair firmly refuse. This encounter deepens the narrative of survival in a world turned dark by the epidemic.

Ally learns through a broadcast that chilling temperatures repel the vesps, prompting discussions about fleeing north where it's colder. This information becomes a critical piece as they plan their next steps to ensure their survival.

The Reverend returns with his followers to confront the family at the cabin. Tensions rise as Hugh refuses again to join their ranks, leading to a confrontation that escalates into violence as they fight to protect their family.

In the aftermath of their harrowing encounters, Hugh and his family finally reach 'The Refuge,' a sanctuary representing hope and safety. Ally reunites with Rob, and they begin to adapt to their new environment, honing their skills to combat the ongoing threat of vesps.