I always thought the old saying that “children should be seen and not heard” was mean-spirited and dismissive of kids. But in the thriller A Quiet Place, it couldn’t be more apt.

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are parents desperate to keep their children silent in a world where monsters that hunt by sound threaten their survival. By cutting out all unnecessary dialog and presenting only the barest essential plot points, A Quiet Pace becomes a stripped down horror film just as concerned with family drama as jump scares. It’s scary sure, but it’s also a thoughtful look at the lengths parent will go to to protect their children.