Have you seen John Krasinski’s amazing 2018 masterpiece and its sequel and wondered how this world came to be? Well, you obviously know about the big origin of how meteor-like objects crash into the city and everyone goes quiet. But we’re not here to talk about those, are we?
There’s more stuff at play, like, “How did they discover that the creatures can’t swim, or how did the community come to be at the end of ‘Quiet Place 2?’”
Well, Day One sort of answers that. Sort Of.
We begin the film with Sam (Lupita Nyong’o), a terminally ill cancer patient who lives at a hospice in New York City with her service cat, Frodo. Ever since this point, we’ve been very much into the entire zone of the story with the rules set in the original films. Keep Quiet. And Henri (Djimon Hounsou) introduces us to this rule as he tells Sam to not make any sound.
Later, a stampede was caused by thousands of people going in the direction of the evacuation boats as the military announced that boats were preparing to evacuate people from the south side of the city. Obviously, people start leaving buildings towards the evacuation point, but the sheer volume of people moving together alerts the noise detector creatures, who attack and cause a stampede. No sh*t, Sherlock!
Meanwhile, Sam flees in the opposite direction, and then we’re introduced to Eric (Joseph Quinn. Hi Eddie from Strange Things!). Eric is scared and follows her around, and they become besties—in need, of course! Eric follows Sam to her apartment, where she hopes to find medication for her pain. The pair later agree to travel together, narrowly avoiding the creatures as they make their way to Harlem. Along the way, Eric gets Sam’s medication for her from a nearby pharmacy. Sam then tells Eric that as a child, she used to watch her late father play jazz at a club and, afterwards, they would get pizza together, something Sam wanted before she succumbed to her illness.
This part was beautiful. Frankly, for me, the day one element of the story didn’t really do anything, but the survivor’s aspect was a very interesting episode. She wants to eat pizza and feel the warmth of the good old days! That’s good motivation now. She is already fighting for her life internally, so finding some solace in the real world makes up for her thought process. I really, really loved the card trick scene; it was beautifully portrayed.
This film really does experiment in fun ways and puts some fun bits on the table. The production design seems to have worked a lot in the film, adding noise catalysts in every place they could. That was fun; it keeps the momentum going. When the world is truly silent, we realize how much noise there really is, even in a pin drop. The environment building is done, but this film isn’t really about the why of things. It’s about people finding some peace in all the silent chaos.
The lightning bits were really, really beautiful. The concept of how they used the thunder to crash open the door and to scream was really great. It was a beautifully created space for them to share an emotion and vent—very therapeutic. Their shared vulnerabilities and acts of kindness create a beacon of warmth in the desolate landscape. There are things this film tries to focus on but forgets by the time it ends, but it still manages to do a lot of it beautifully.
Lupita Nyong’o, as Sam, is truly breathtaking. She has portrayed so many emotions and so honestly that it makes up a worthy addition to the quiet place saga, despite there not being much to offer as a story.
Joseph Quinn feels like the guy who can make any story feel hopeful. His bit with the magic card trick was amazing, and it’s awesome how he can play with his eyes and convey every emotion he needs. He is magic!
Djimon Hounsou is super talented. His scene where he tries to silence a man to save him while he accidentally ends up killing him, he portrayed that brilliantly. Too bad that the film never did any sort of justice to his character after that point.
The sound design deserves high praise. The constant tension of even the most mundane actions is palpable. Every creak of a floorboard and every rustle of clothing becomes a potential death knell. In contrast, the use of silence is equally effective. The scene where Sam and Eric utilize a lightning strike to communicate their grief is a masterclass in visual storytelling. They really doubled down on this!
The film boasts impressive technical aspects. The grainy texture of the cinematography adds a gritty realism, while the visual effects faithfully depict the terrifying creatures. The production design deserves credit for meticulously crafting a world where every object has the potential to create noise. From the ubiquitous “noise dampeners” to the desolate streets littered with abandoned belongings, the environment itself becomes a character, constantly reminding viewers of the fragile state of humanity.
Sometimes, when there’s an ariel shot of the city, the film feels as if we’re playing Alien Shooter. I love that reminiscence.
Despite its strengths, “A Quiet Place: Day One” stumbles in a few areas. The title itself is somewhat misleading to those who are in it for answers. While the film offers glimpses into the initial chaos of the invasion, it doesn’t delve into the origin story or answer burning questions like how humans discovered the creatures’ weaknesses. It would’ve been meaningful to see someone realizing that the aliens respond to sound and that they can’t swim.
The film feels like it could benefit from a longer runtime. Certain plotlines, particularly Djimon Hounsou’s character arc, feel underdeveloped. His initial scene establishes a morally complex character, but he largely disappears from the narrative. How do you waste a talent like that? There could’ve been so much to say about this. I’d require an entire arc of him managing to reach the boat AND leading the community
Ultimately, “A Quiet Place: Day One” is a fun and visually engaging addition to the franchise. The performances are stellar, the technical aspects are impressive, and the focus on human connection amidst despair resonates. However, the film’s short runtime hinders its ability to explore its potential fully. It feels like a collection of interesting ideas crammed into a single narrative, leaving some threads frustratingly loose. If they had given even half what they gave to Frodo, the cat, to the important arcs, maybe the film would’ve been able to tell a better narrative. Because it’s obvious that unless the film makers aren’t establishing that they will play with your emotions in a twisted way, we all know the cat will make it out alive. So, it really isn’t necessary to have that arc when there’s really so much to expand on…
The backstory we heard in A Quiet Place: Part II (2020) from Henri that when the U.S. government discovered the creatures were unable to swim, the U.S. National Guard attempted to move people to the islands. However, the chaos from boarding created noise that attracted the creatures, leaving only two boats that made it to the island. This part was strictly limited to these two sentences in Day One. makes me think that if they weren’t keen on expanding much, they could’ve just added it as a flashback in part two than having it here for namesakes. Like, yes, I get it you’ve the base story being used as a connective tissue but for God’s sake, expand it properly! Henri’s perspective would have really been a game changer.
The film might be better suited as an extended cut or even a miniseries or a ‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’ approach where they make a whole series out of it to justify the arcs. This format would allow for a deeper exploration of the characters’ backstories, the initial societal collapse, and the discoveries made in those early days.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” is a solid entry in the franchise. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the original films, it offers a compelling character-driven story set against a terrifying backdrop. With its beautiful visuals, stellar sound design, and powerful performances, the film is worth a watch for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. However, those seeking a deeper exploration of the lore or a more expansive narrative might be left wanting.
But with all the beautiful camera work, brilliant sound, and production design, I’d rate this film three out of five stars for its awesomeness!
