John Krasinski breaks down one of A Quiet Place's most terrifying scenes

Much of the hubbub about A Quiet Place, John Krasinski’s sonically adventurous (and commercially successful) new horror movie, centers around the film’s use of silence. And while the actors do an admirable job of conveying how the weight of that silence changes the way they move and interact, it’s the tiny details of the world that provide an even clearer window into what life would be like in such a scenario.

Krasinski popped by Vanity Fair’s “Notes on a Scene” to dig into those little details, specifically during an ultra-tense scene that finds the film’s kids accidentally knocking over a lantern while playing Monopoly. Pointing out how the Monopoly pieces have been replaced by swatches of fabric and other practical crafting supplies, Krasinski demonstrates just how he and the movie’s set designers considered the intricacies of the world. He also uses it to build character, identifying the homey touches that show just how much A Quiet Place’s protagonists are working to build as normal a life as possible for their children.

He also touches on a few other aspects of the film, such as his decision to shoot on film, the inspiration he found in the films of Terrance Malick, and the importance of casting a deaf actress (Millicent Simmonds) to play a deaf character.