Michael Sarnoski (Pig) and a stellar cast help craft a stellar prequel in A Quiet Place: Day One that stands alongside the previous two films.
A Quiet Place: Day One trades the quiet confines in the previous entries to New York City. Even with the larger setting, Sarnoski keeps the franchise’s focus on a few characters. Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, and Djimon Hounsou (returning from Part II) are the humans at the center of this alien invasion story. Last but certainly not least is Frodo, Samira’s (Nyong’o) loyal cat.
Day One is another acting showcase. There’s little dialogue since the film uses aliens who hunt by sound. The combination of Sarnoski and Nyong’o is terrific. Sarnoski is incredible at finding magic in melancholy under the most extreme situations. Nyong’o is an incredible actress, period, but she is uniquely gifted at selling emotions only through her eyes. Quinn’s vulnerability and sheepishness make him a great scene partner for Nyong’o as Eric, a law student from Britain. Hounsou also has a brilliant moment where he makes a snap reaction in front of his son, which is the most heartbreaking scene in the film.
Once again, the sound effects are in a league of their own, with each step feeling like it could be a person’s last. Day one is a little scarier than Part II, but nowhere near as frighteningly tense as the first film.
My only gripe with Day One is that the humans seem to understand how the aliens react only by sounding too fast. When Samira wakes up after the initial attack, Henri (Hounsou) is around to silently explain the new rules to her. However, I would prefer seeing how this group figured out silence is the key to survival. When Samira leaves to go find pizza, there are crowds of humans who don’t seem to know the rules.
Overall, Sarnoski weaves a sad yet beautiful tale in the A Quiet Place universe that matches the quality of John Krasinski‘s previous entries.
After the overview and ranking Day One 9 out of 10 (Outstanding), let’s dive deeper into the day-one events: the melancholy search for pizza and humanity’s different reactions to crisis. Looking to catch up? The previous films are available to stream on Paramount Plus and Hulu.
Day One Invasion
Day One begins with a typical day in New York City. For Samira, this means waking up in hospice care outside the city limits, still fighting a losing battle against cancer. The group nurse, Reuben (Wolff), takes the group into the city for a show and the promise of pizza. During the show, Samira meets Henri and his son who pets Frodo.
After the show, Reuben reveals the group can’t stay in the city for pizza and must return to the hospice center. The bus doesn’t get too far before the invasion hits. Samira is knocked unconscious. When she wakes up, she returns to the theater where Rueben, Henri, Henri’s son and several others are holed up.
Sarnoski does an excellent job of building up to the invasion. Near the film’s beginning, a trio of fighter jets soars across the New York skyline. In the hustle and bustle of New York, the jets don’t seem out of place. While Samira, Reuben, and the other hospice patients are at the marionette show, tanks speed across the streets of New York.
Destination Harlem
After the attack, Samira heads into the city with a specific destination. She just wants a slice of pizza in Harlem, but there’s more than aliens impeding her journey.
She meets Eric. Initially, she wants him to leave her and head to the boats. However, even though Eric is terrified, he won’t abandon Samira. The lack of dialogue makes it challenging to see why he stays so attached to Samira.
Nyong’o and Quinn have such great chemistry on the screen you buy their partnership. When Eric shuts down in terror, Samira becomes more determined. When she’s feeling weak, he brings compassion and humor.
Partnering up Samira with Eric helps flesh out her character. I was moved by the focus on music in Day One. Whether it’s a first-generation iPod or the longing in Samira’s eye as she looks at the piano her father played, something about the loss of music in a silent world truly resonates.
Human Response to Alien Crisis
Humans in crisis are fascinating. Some films, like Independence Day, use crisis to bring humans together. Other stories, such as Mad Max or The Road, show humanity teetering on a razor’s edge, spurred on by only a desire to survive.
A Quiet Place: Day One shows both sides. After leaving the theater, Samira walks the streets with a small crowd of people. A small noise sets off the aliens, and an attack ensues. Instead of going quiet, they stampede and even trample Samira.
Henri’s attempt to quietly subdue a man going crazy over the situation is another example of how humans react instinctively when trying to protect their own.
Day one also shows the good of humanity. The scenes of Eric and Samira show the beauty of human connection. Even something as small as pizza sharing becomes more profound in an upside-down world.
A Quiet Place: Day One Final Thoughts
Sarnoski has made an incredibly affecting, gorgeously shot film featuring a terrific performance by Nyong’o with A Quiet Place: Day One. Ranking the A Quiet Place films is challenging, but I think Day One sits right in the middle—ahead of Part II and behind the first film.
The Review
A Quiet Place: Day 1
PROS
- Lupita Nyong'o is terrific at expression emotion in a difficult role.
- Michael Sarnoski's ability to pull magic out of small moments.
- Brilliant sound design.
- Interesting look at humanity in response to the invasion.
CONS
- Not enough exploration of the aliens.
