A Quiet Place: Day One, a prequel to A Quiet Place, depicts the initial alien invasion on a much bigger scale. With an interesting, personal story, this is an effective, at times touching film for those who enjoyed the first two films.
Sam (Lupita Nyong’o), a cancer patient with past trauma, is in hospice when mysterious objects hurtle into New York City and terrifying alien monsters emerge, drawn by the slightest sound, and begin to savagely attack people. Isolated and on the run with her cat Frodo, she comes upon a scared man, Eric (Joseph Quinn). Together, they learn to help each other and evade the aliens, and as they approach possible safety, Sam makes a momentous decision.
This is one big funhouse of horror turned inside out as death is seconds away at the drop of the slightest sound. There are harrowing scenes in a flooded subway and the pandemonium on the streets of New York where the film, with bigger production values, recreates the invasion in a grander setting but smartly keeps its focus on Sam. Not just a story about survival, a significant theme is about recalling Sam’s past and how it affects her actions in the present and future. It’s also about compassion and sacrifice amid desolation and hopelessness. (It does have a tie in with the past films having a common character played by Djimon Hounsou.)
Although
we don’t learn much more about the aliens than in previous films and Eric has virtually
no background history, the film boasts an
affecting performance by Nyong’o and a special, adorable cat who becomes a
supporting character worth rooting for. It’s a pretty good film (not too
graphic) that elicits empathy for its characters and should satisfy fans of the
series.
****1/2
of ***** stars
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