In the movie, “A Quiet Place,” director and leading actor John Krasinski conveys a powerful message through the use of sign language and facial expressions. Krasinski, famous for his role as Jim Halpert in “The Office,” says that the movie’s main message shows the importance of family, despite the suspense and grim alien creatures.
According to Variety, an American entertainment trade magazine, Krasinski says the movie is a metaphor for parenthood, the idea of parents protecting their kids and how far a parent would go to protect them.
However, many critics say that the movie uses the apocalyptic monsters as a symbol of the nation’s current political unrest.
Horror works best if the viewer is invested in the characters, and this particular cast absorbs the audience into the horrifying, post-apocalyptic world.
“Yes, the movie’s scary, and yes, it’s so much fun in how we explore the world and get you to be scared, but to me, the only reason it’s the type of scary that it is because the audience cares about this family,” Krasinski told MTV News at a press day for the film.
The majority of  “A Quiet Place” is filmed in sign language with subtitles, leaving the viewers to analyze the actors’ facial expressions in order to understand the family dynamic. Krasinski casted Millicent Simmonds, a deaf actress, to play his daughter Regan in the film; he also encouraged the cast and crew to learn ASL as well.
“Casting a deaf actress in the role was non-negotiable,” said Krasinski to MTV News.
Producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form described the script as “a gunshot right in my heart,” adding, “I was so moved by this incredible, powerful metaphor for parenthood.”