Jordan Peele broke the mold with his 2017 directorial debut, the Oscar-winning Get Out. Going from MADtv to helming a horror flick was unlikely to be a success, but Peele pulled it off. So what happens when Jim from The Office tries his hand at directing? The result, A Quiet Place, is a fearless monster movie from the mind of John Krasinski.

A Quiet Place stars Krasinski and Emily Blunt, the parents of a family hiding in silence from mysterious creatures in the woods. The premise of the film is just as ominous as its marketing, as it gives the audience no clue what will follow.

The film opens by thrusting the audience into the middle of the family’s survival. No origin story is given, nor is one needed. Instead, there are hints throughout revealing the omitted details. This gives the audience the opportunity to piece everything together as it happens, making it much more gripping.

More importantly than the monsters, the film is about love and protecting one’s family. Blunt and Krasinski (who are married in real life) obviously have chemistry. The chemistry isn’t necessarily romantic, but they show a deep love for each other and their children on-screen. Hints are also given to the life the family had before the film. Their performances demonstrate how far a parent will go to save their children in a catastrophe, and return to normalcy.

The performances from the child actors were also surprisingly engaging. Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe deliver performances more mature than actors with twice their experience. They play sister and brother, respectively, and in doing so subtly address traditional gender stereotypes. After all, in a post-apocalyptic world, there is no room for those; everyone must work together to survive.

A Quiet Place, unsurprisingly, is filled with incredibly moving imagery. The film takes place in nature, and the shots bring the audience in with the characters. The story is told entirely through pictures, detailing the characters’ every thought and emotion. At times, it hurts to watch simply because the movie creates a visceral reaction to what is being shown.

The title of this piece is not an exaggeration; I was moved to tears watching A Quiet Place. As a director, Krasinski walks the line very carefully between fear, love, and tension. In doing so, the film succeeds in a beautiful fashion.

A Quiet Place does what many great films do, and what all others should: treat the audience with intelligence.

When you see this, I do suggest you skip the snacks and make sure your phone is off. In a movie that requires you to listen so intently, sounds and distractions of the outside world hurt. For an experience like this, you deserve the best.