4 out of 5
A Quiet Place: Day One isn't quite a full-blown sequel, but rather a chilling expansion of the terrifying world introduced in the original film, A Quiet Place. In 2018, writer and director John Krasinski (Mr. Emily Blunt) introduced us to an amazingly terrifying world where silence ruled following an alien invasion. It was inventive and terrifying in equal measure. In 2020, we got Part 2 which gave us a glimpse into the original invasion from the family's perspective. There is a third film in the works, A Quiet Day: Part 3 due in 2025.
Now director Michael Sarnoski crafts a suspenseful prequel that sheds light on the initial alien invasion and the desperate struggle for survival in its immediate aftermath from the perspective of new protagonists in Manhatten.
In this film we meet Samira (Lupita Nyong'o), a terminally ill cancer patient, who lives at a hospice outside New York City with her cat, Frodo. One day, Reuben, a care worker, convinces a reluctant Sam to join a group outing to a marionette show in Manhattan. During the trip, the group notice meteor-like objects crashing into the city. Shortly afterward, hostile extraterrestrial creatures begin to attack people. In the ensuing chaos, Sam is knocked unconscious. She later wakes up inside the puppet theater with Frodo and other survivors. Everyone is quiet, and she is signaled by fellow survivor Henri to avoid making any noise.
Announcements from overhead military helicopters warn civilians to stay silent and hidden until rescues can be made. The military announces they are preparing to evacuate civilians by boat from South Street Seaport, because the creatures are unable to swim. Groups of people start leaving buildings towards the evacuation point, but the sheer volume of their movement together in crowds creates noise that alerts the creatures, who attack them and cause a stampede. It's a powerful scene as thousands of people slowly shuffle their way to rescue.
Samira meets Eric, an English law student, who has escaped a flooded subway station. She attempts to convince Eric to go to the evacuation point, but Eric is shell-shocked and follows Sam back to her apartment instead, where she hopes to find pain medication. While there, Eric learns Sam is an acclaimed and published poet. Sam and Eric later agree to travel together and narrowly avoid the creatures as they make their way to Harlem. Along the way, Eric gets Sam's medication for her from a nearby pharmacy. Sam tells him that, as a child, she used to watch her late father play jazz at a club and would get pizza with him at Patsy's afterward, something Sam always wanted to do before she died. Eric fulfills Sam's wish by taking her to the club, collecting pizza from another store, and performing a magic card trick to cheer her up. It's a truly moving moment among the horror.
A Quiet Place: Day One doesn't quite reach the same level of innovation as its predecessor. The core concept remains the same, and the film occasionally feels like a retread of familiar territory. The pacing can be uneven at times, with some scenes dragging slightly and certain plot developments feeling predictable. Lupita Nyong'o carries the whole film and is truly outstanding in the film. She is in practically every scene and delivers a wonderful performance.
Despite these minor drawbacks, A Quiet Place: Day One is a worthy addition to the franchise. For fans of the original, it offers a satisfying glimpse into the origins of the terrifying creatures and the human cost of their arrival. The film delivers scares, emotional moments, and a reminder of the power of human resilience.
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