A Quiet Place: Day One - A Startlingly Good Prequel

The latest installment in the A Quiet Place franchise has finally arrived, and it’s safe to say that it’s a game-changer. A Quiet Place: Day One is a bold and daring prequel that finds new ways to tell a story in a world where characters can’t talk.

Image: Gareth Gatrell/Paramount Pictures

In this latest installment, writer and director Michael Sarnoski takes the reins, introducing a new lead character, Sam, played by Lupita Nyong’o. Sam is a terminal cancer patient who’s already come to terms with her own mortality. She’s angry, jaded, and cruel to everyone around her, including her doting nurse. But despite her circumstances, Sam has one last goal: to tiptoe her way to Harlem for her favorite pizza.

This quixotic trek is more about autonomy than gastronomy, and it turns out to be a satisfying way to explore the human side of a global catastrophe. Joining Sam on her adventure are a British law student named Eric, played by Joseph Quinn, and her cat, Frodo. Together, they navigate the dangers of a post-apocalyptic world, all while trying to stay silent and avoid the deadly aliens that roam the streets.

A Quiet Place: Day One

Sarnoski’s direction is masterful, poking at the reasons why we’re drawn to disaster movies in the first place. The film hurtles us into the horror and chaos of the aliens’ arrival, with a disorienting camera spin that evokes the panic of 9/11. The sound mix is cranked up, making our seats rumble and our teeth grind.

But beneath the surface, A Quiet Place: Day One is really about our own curiosity about how we would react in the face of disaster. Would we make better decisions than the characters on screen? It’s easy to scowl at a stranger scraping a roller suitcase down the street, but what about when we’re faced with the moral paralysis of watching someone push a loved one in a rattling wheelchair?

A Quiet Place: Day One

A Quiet Place: Day One is a thought-provoking and suspenseful film that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its bold direction and standout performances, it’s a must-see for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.

Rating: PG-13

** Runtime:** 99 minutes

Contains: Mild gore and scream-worthy suspense