A Quiet Place - Day One Review

It's hard to believe, but when A Quiet Place came out in 2018, nobody really thought it would amount to much. Sure, we all expected it to be a decent little horror movie. And then it was a sleeper hit. Now they are back for a third film in the series, a prequel, in A Quiet Place: Day One.

A woman named Sam (Lupita Nyong'o) finds herself trapped in a hospice in New York at the start of the alien invasion depicted in the first two films. Amidst the chaos and carnage, she discovers her will to live, forming a potent bond with Eddie (Joseph Quinn), a youthful exchange student from England.

Yes, that's it. I gave away the spoiler, but the beauty lies in the details.

A Quiet Place: Day One may not quite reach the heights of its predecessors, but it's a solid prequel that shares the same DNA and delivers a surprisingly affecting human story amid all the destruction. Director Michael Sarnoski, stepping into John Krasinski's shoes, infuses the film with a more dramatic bent, emphasizing character development over sheer alien horror. Known for his incredible indie drama "Pig", Sarnoski brings a humanistic vibe to the film. Sure, there are alien attacks and carnage, but at its heart, it's a story about two people thrown together by fate. The film's emotional core is the evolving bond between Sam and Eddie, highlighting empathy and human connection in the face of death.

Lupita Nyong'o delivers a powerful performance as Sam, a unique protagonist who is not only battling cancer but also the alien threat. Her portrayal of a dying woman finding her will to live is both inspiring and heart-wrenching. Joseph Quinn, fresh from his impactful role in Stranger Things, complements her well as Eddie, whose bright future vanishes in the blink of an eye. Their camaraderie feels authentic and touching.

Djimon Hounsou reprises his role as Henri, providing a solid connection to the previous films and showing how he came to lead an island of survivors in the second film. Alex Wolff, as Sam's caring and heroic nurse Reuben, also delivers an impeccable performance, adding depth to the ensemble cast.

The film excels in its technical aspects, too, with the New York setting proving to be quite effective. The sound design, a critical element in the A Quiet Place franchise, remains top-notch, creating an immersive and tense atmosphere. However, the movie does embrace a bit of magical realism with Sam's therapy cat, which feels slightly out of place in the otherwise grounded narrative. This element, while charming, stretches believability more than the alien premise itself.

While A Quiet Place: Day One might not have the same level of suspense as the previous A Quiet Place movies, it remains thoroughly compelling from start to finish. The character-driven narrative, strong performances and emotional depth make it a worthy addition to the franchise. Fans of the series and newcomers alike will find much to appreciate in this prequel, even if it lacks a bit of the extra kick that Krasinski brought to the earlier films.

In the grand scheme of things A Quiet Place: Day One may be the least of the series, but it's still quite good. The franchise continues to surprise with its ability to deliver engaging and emotionally resonant stories, suggesting it could sustain another movie or two. As the proverb goes, good things come in threes, and this third installment proves that there's still plenty of life left in this quiet yet thrilling saga.