‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ takes to the screen with more heart, suspense than horror
With a muted plot and action, “A Quiet Place: Day One” doesn’t live up to the noise of the other two movies in the franchise.
Instead, it offers a different sound all together.
Opening screens give viewers an audible representation of how the movie’s setting, New York, gives off the decibel of a constant scream — a not-so-subtle foreshadowing of the following events.
In lieu of following the Abott family like the other two films in the franchise, “A Quiet Place: Day One” follows an unlikely trio: a terminally ill cancer patient named Samira (Lupita Nyong’o), Samira’s cat, Frodo (played by cats Schnitzel and Nico), and a British law school student named Eric (Joseph Quinn).
Unlike his namesake, Frodo the cat doesn’t embark on a quest through Middle Earth, opting instead to fearlessly traverse post-apocalyptic New York with Eric and Samira.
Together, the three band together not to survive or learn how to fight back against the creatures like in the previous films. No, this group’s goal is getting a slice of pizza.
The unlikely quest comes alongside an unlikely plot.
For viewers who are expecting a film like John Krasinski’s first two, the prequel by Michael Sarnoski (based on a story conceived by them both) offers an entirely new beast all together.
While the first two show the Abbott family navigating an apocalyptic world as they discover new ways to outsmart the aliens, fight back and survive, ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ offers none of that familiar action.
There isn’t a real climax, there is little carnage and no visual depiction of people making discoveries, like the aliens not knowing how to swim, or how they found out they had to be silent — instead, vague exposition is given by government choppers at the beginning of the film.
What the movie does offer is a story of the heart which plays against the chords of constant suspense.
This suspense mounts through close-up shots of the aliens, who get arguably more screentime this time.
While Sarnoski could have used these added alien scenes to create gory, eye-catching spectacles, he opts to use them for tension instead of terror.
Horrifying spectacles are swapped for close-up scenes of people making noise.
The transition from eerie post-noise silence to hearing the creature come closer and closer leaves audience members holding their breath.
More than that, though, is the difference in plot.
Rather than capture the traditional man versus monster narrative, Sarnoski’s is a tale of one’s internal battle with themself and the desire to live that just so happens to be in an apocalyptic setting.
For this story, Nyong’o’s portrayal of Samira was perfect.
Her emotive facial expressions and realistic dialogue (when it’s safe to speak) evoke rawness and authenticity. Alongside Quinn, the emotion the actors bring to the roles allows the audience to witness the characters connect. Their relationship continues to develop with hints of romance, despite the lack of dialogue.
Complicating their relationship, Samira and Eric are juxtaposed against each other (and against Frodo, who just does what he wants, as cats do).
Putting a spin on the classic “What would you do if the world ended?”, Sarnoksi asks instead, “What would someone with a terminal illness do?”
For Samira, the answer was pizza.
A simple goal becomes a momentous slice of normalcy that reignites Samira’s resilience.
The result is a beautiful story about finding optimism in the face of danger. The characters find solace in sharing a meal, card tricks and screaming under the cover of thunder.
All in all, the movie is an interesting tale of how the apocalypse helped two people — and a cat — live again and find some agency.
For fans of the franchise looking for more of that “A Quiet Place” horror, or for answers to their questions, this might not be the movie for you.
While the movie shows a few scenes hinted at in prior films, the film only lingers on the encounters for a moment to allow a story of self-discovery to shine.
“Day One” offers a different kind of quiet — a different that isn’t necessarily better or worse than the other two— just different.
Also, for the cat lovers, spoiler alert — Frodo lives.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” is out in theaters now.
Contact Indianapolis Recorder intern, Kayla Barlow, at kaylab@indyrecorder.com.
