‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Is A Character Driven Film With The Aliens Serving Little Purpose [MOVIE REVIEW]

It may be day one, but the prequel to the “A Quiet Place” universe is much of the same with character driven plot being the main focus in “A Quiet Place: Day One.” Written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou, and Alex Wolff star in the new film added to the franchise which premiered in theaters June 28.

(L-R) Djimon Hounsou as Henri, Lupita Nyong’o as Samira, and Alex Wolff as Reuben in “A Quiet Place: Day One.” Photo: Paramount Pictures

Lupita Nyong’o stars as Samira aka Sam in “A Quiet Place: Day One,” a terminally ill cancer patient taking up residence at a hospice on the outskirts of New York with her cat Frodo (played by Schnitzel and Nico). Reluctantly, Sam joins residents of the hospice chaperoned by care giver Reuben (Wolff) on a trip to Manhattan for a puppet show, but Sam’s main goal is to get pizza from Patsy’s Pizzeria in Harlem before the trip is over. During the time in Manhattan, bright meteor shaped figures cascade from the skies signifying the start of alien creatures inhabiting Earth. Naturally all hell breaks loose as the hostile creatures attracted to sound begin to cause devastation. Seeking refuge, Sam encounters Henri (Hounsou’s character from “A Quiet Place Part II”) as the city makes efforts to contain the creatures and evacuate survivors.

Realizing her time is much more limited, Sam and Frodo set off on a quest for pizza and encounters Eric (Quinn) along the way, a law student from England prone to understandable panic attacks while navigating the new reality. The rest of “A Quiet Place: Day One” focuses on Eric, Sam, and Frodo as they trek for pizza, some level of sanity, and remnants of humanity. Since much of the film takes place in silence there are a few jump scares that got me when that moment of quiet was disturbed, but the “A Quiet Place” films in general are not based on terror but more of the characters and their personal developments. Emotions are on full display on the faces of Lupita and Joseph who have to convey their feelings that way because of the predicament of the plot and they pull off a believable job of angst and sorrow.

(L-R) Joseph Quinn as Eric, Lupita Nyong’o as Samira, and Frodo in “A Quiet Place: Day One.” Photo: Paramount Pictures

Now on to my qualms about “A Quiet Place: Day One.” Djimon Hounsou’s character Henri served no real purpose in this one other than to be a way to connect the franchise. We got no backstory about him or his family. They were just there. I also could not wrap my head around how much was know about these alien creatures SO soon. If they JUST got here, I mean literally just came from the sky, how would people know to be quiet because sound attracts them and that water is an asset against them? Also being a cat mom I was super focused on the cat being in this film from the moment I saw the teaser trailer. My heart was in my throat for Frodo but knowing my pet and felines in general, what kind of supernatural cat was this? It didn’t meow, barely purred, didn’t need resuscitation after being under water for extended periods of time and didn’t hiss at the monsters once. I can disband belief alot when watching movies. It’s a movie but that was just too unrealistic for me.

Lupita Nyong’o as Samira and Frodo in “A Quiet Place: Day One.” Photo: Paramount Pictures

“A Quiet Place: Day One” and the franchise as a whole has been about humanity and the connections between one another more than the monsters. They serve as a catalyst for questions you could ask yourself when watching these films. How would you navigate a new reality if you’ve been working your entire life towards a future that no longer exists? How would you show compassion to your fellow man knowing your time on Earth could be dwindling away? Can you find beauty and peace in the stillness of life despite catastrophe happening around you? And how far would you go for your last meal?

“A Quiet Place: Day One” is playing now in theaters.

Have you checked out the latest installment of the “A Quiet Place” franchise? What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Photo: Paramount Pictures