MOVIE REVIEW: A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (PG-13)
– By Adam Mast –
John Krasinski truly made a name for himself by way of his memorable turn on “The Office” but over the last decade or so, he’s come into his own as quite a solid director as well. Following the underseen independent dramedy, “The Hollars,” Krasinski would go on to helm the sci-fi-tinged creature feature, “A Quiet Place” as well as its equally successful sequel just a couple of years later. That said, he’d ultimately pass the directing reins on this “A Quiet Place” spinoff to a new director so he could concentrate on his recently released family film, “If.”
In “A Quiet Place: Day One,” an emotionally charged Lupita Nyong’o is Samira, a terminally ill New Yorker with a bit of a chip on her shoulders who is abruptly thrust into a complete and utter nightmare when an alien invasion creates the kind of big city chaos not seen since the tragic likes of 9/11. Eventually, Samira finds herself in a life and death struggle as an army of otherworldly creatures terrorize New York. As was the case in the past two installments of this incredibly popular franchise, the creatures in question are attracted to sound. Translation; Make a noise and you’re dead. With only a service animal by her side–an adorable and resilient cat called Frodo-Samira eventually (and most reluctantly) teams with soon-to-be-lawyer Eric (Joseph Quinn of “Stranger Things” fame), a terrified individual looking for some guidance in a world gone to hell.
As previously mentioned, Krasinski passed along directing reins to a different filmmaker this time around. Initially, Jeff Nichols (the gifted auteur behind the recently released “The Bikeriders”) was going to step up to the plate but he departed shortly before production. Taking his place; Michael Sarnoski, the relative newcomer behind the underappreciated independent gem, “Pig.” Seriously, if you haven’t seen “Pig,” I highly recommend it. It features one of the best performances of Nicolas Cage’s lengthy career.
Sarnoski proves to be a great choice here as he really does put quite an emphasis on the human experience rather than just focusing on the alien carnage. In that regard, “Day One” certainly has quite a bit in common with parts one and two. This is to say that while this movie doesn’t shy away from showing the devastation caused by the aliens, Sarnoski is far more interested in people. The aliens are the obstacle much like the zombies in “The Walking Dead.” It should also be noted that if you’re looking for an expansion of the alien lore at the heart of this series, you won’t get that in this film. There is one sequence here in which we see these creatures dining, but what it is they’re consuming isn’t really explained. Again, this film is really about the character beats and there are some beautiful ones to speak of. And interestingly enough, “Day One” sometimes feels almost improvised in nature (particularly during a moving scene in the final act) and in many ways, that’s to the film’s benefit.
Nyong’o is just a wonderful screen presence and while her end goal in “Day One” might be a little obvious to some, she plays the proceedings with honesty and conviction. Likewise, Quinn is terrific as a most unexpected ray of light in Samira’s rather dark world and the bond that develops between them is a rich one. While Nyong’o and Quinn really are the heart and soul of the movie, Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolff provide effective supporting performances. On a final note, I’d be remiss if I didn’t heap praise upon scene stealer Frodo. As a support animal with a heart of gold, I was on edge every moment this cute little feline was on screen because I didn’t want to see him end up as dinner. Yes, Frodo as a character requires that good old suspension of disbelief (this cat does things and behaves in a manner that really could only happen in the movies), but in his own way he’s a vital part of the film and goes a long way to inform who Samira and Eric are as people.
Yes, “A Quiet Place: Day One” certainly offers a more-of-the-same approach to the apocalyptic proceedings and yes, there are inconsistencies where it pertains to the “don’t make a sound” rule throughout, but…I did get caught up in the more, if you’ll pardon the pun, quiet aspects of this dramatic movie and much credit goes to Sarnoski, Nyong’o, and Quinn for that. They clearly recognize that this is an end–of-the-world type scenario, but they also recognize that a movie of this nature can only really work if it offers up characters worth caring about. It’s also clear that they understand that no matter how bleak things might get, viewers need to walk away from this movie with a sense of hope, compassion, and empathy. In the end this film accomplishes that. No, “A Quiet Place: Day One” doesn’t reinvent the creature feature wheel but ultimately, it is a fitting addition to this series.
