Opening on Thurs. April 6, “A Quiet Place” scored a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and there is no doubt that it deserves it. Director John Krasinski, who is well known for his role in the U.S. version of “The Office”, explores the lengths parents are willing to go to in order to protect their children.

The movie centers around a family of five in a post apocalyptic, but near future (2020s), world that has been overrun by an unknown species that hunts by sound. If the creature hears the crunch of a leaf, or the snap of a twig, it will pounce on you in a matter of seconds. This aspect adds a level of intensity that will surely keep you on the edge of your seat. However, “A Quiet Place” does not rely on these jump scares to make it stand out. Instead, it focuses on the characters and how they function as a family who must learn to survive under seemingly impossible circumstances.

At the start of the movie the Abbott family undergoes a tragedy, which adds a second layer of silence between them. They use sign language to communicate, but even that form of communication seems fractured. The eldest of the three children, Regan, played by Millicent Simmonds, is deaf. She lacks the most important survival sense in the movie, and believes the accident to be her fault, so she further distances herself from her parents.

Lee Abbott, played by Krasinski, tries to teach his son, Marcus, played by Noah Jupe, how to protect himself, while accidentally distancing himself from his daughter. His wife Evelyn, played by Emily Blunt, meanwhile is busy taking care of their home and preparing herself for another baby. All of this family drama is then heightened by the constant threat of sound. Unlike many horror movies, Krasinski excels at telling the complex and beautiful relationship between parents and their children, while also creating an usual atmosphere that dominates our fear. All of the characters are well-developed and continue to develop even though the movie is only 1 hour and 30 minutes. You will be find yourself not only scared witless, but deeply attached to the characters, which makes every threat to them more intense.

Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” is a modern masterpiece that invites audiences to enjoy thrills, chills and unlock raw emotions. I am not a horror movie person, but I would recommend this movie to a friend without a doubt, and I hope Krasinski continues directing.