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Deep Dive: A Quiet Place Part II

September 10, 2021

In 2018, a film came out that presented a new perspective for the horror genre. Directed by John Krasinski, A Quiet Place tells the story of a family living in an apocalyptic era, where alien creatures hunt based on sound. The filmfollows your typical American family, the Abbotts, as they work desperately to survive in silence.

Perhaps one of the most unique features of A Quiet Place is its utilization of a disabled character and AmericanSign Language (ASL). Having one of the lead characters be deaf was not just a coincidence or creative choice, it was an intentional part of the film. A Quiet Place is themed around silence, so what better way to explore a silent world than through those who have already learned how to navigate the world in silence.

For John Krasinksi, who also starred in A Quiet Place, casting a deaf actress to play a deaf character was a non-negotiable. Millicent “Millie” Simmons is an actress, and she is deaf. She has acted in other movies, such asWanderlust, but she is most known today for her stunning performance in both A Quiet Place, and A Quiet Place: Part II.

It was so refreshing and encouraging to me to see a film feature a disabled actress and portray this disability so beautifully. While I myself do not have a disability, there are many people in my life that I love deeply who have a disability of some kind. Every person is made fearfully and wonderfully in the image of God. As followers of Jesus, we should treat everyone, regardless of ability or disability, with the dignity and honor that they have as image bearers. Wecome across people with many types and levels of disabilities every day, and our entertainment should reflect the same. Roughly 600,000 people in the United States alone are deaf or hard of hearing. This may seem like a small number compared to the population, but each person who was counted as a part of that number is a real person made in the image of God and they deserve representation in entertainment.

It was important to Krasinski to honor deaf culture and those in the deaf community, so looked to Millie to help him understand what it is like to live without sound. The cast and crew all learned ASL so that they could communicate,and most dialogue in the film was done in ASL. During the filming process, he would check in with Millie to make sure what he was directing was as accurate a depiction as possible of what it means to be deaf. Much of the film’s cameraand audio work was inspired by Millie’s life. As you watch both the first and second films, you will notice thatwhenever the camera is focused on Millie’s character, all sound becomes muffled, sound does not disappear, justbecomes very muted. This decision was made based off a conversation that Krasinski had with Millie’s mother. Millie is deaf, but she does not live in complete silence. She hears the world at a very low, muffled level. So, what you see Millie’s character experience withsound is truly a depiction of what Millie experiences in her real life.

Perhaps the most beautiful part of the inclusivity of American Sign Language and deaf culture in the film is the way that it is portrayed as a strength. Living with a disability is not easy and of course comes with challenges, but this absolutely does not mean that there is not value, strength, and beauty to be found within a disability. Ever since the fall,people with disabilities of any kind have had to fight to be included and valued as an asset rather than seen as adisadvantage. But, in the lives of the Abbott family, the fact that their daughter is deaf becomes their greatest advantagein this apocalyptic world. Their prior experience with sign language gave them the ability to communicate in a world where life depends on silence. I do not want to give away any spoilers for the first film, but Millie’s deafness plays a huge role in the family’s survival. What most of the world may consider a weakness, is the greatest strength that thisfamily has, other than their love for each other.

Overall, I think that this film did a great job honoring deaf culture and those in the deaf community, from thecast and crew all learning sign language, hiring a deaf actress to play a deaf character, and portraying disability as a strength. Thank you to the cast and crew of A Quiet Place for showing the world that “disabled” does not have to mean “disadvantaged”.

Resources:

https://www.thewrap.com/quiet-place-star-john-krasinski-on-learning-sign-language-for-the-filmexclusive-video/

 


 

Written by: Sarah Day

Sarah is a junior majoring in Youth Ministry. Sarah enjoys writing for the blog because she loves exploring the ways that the simplest things in our lives impact us in the most meaningful ways. She is passionate about connecting with people, talking about what truly matters and baking.