Sam knew she was going to die. It wasn’t a matter of how, but when.
After attending a puppet show, Sam (Lupita Nyong’o) begrudgingly moves her feet aboard a dingy bus back to the Brooklyn hospice center. Deflated and bitter, she was once again in a position of powerlessness, as the promise of pizza from her hospice nurse was revoked due to a “rumored threat” in the city she couldn’t care less about. Stepping outside for a breath of air, the sight of meteorites cutting into concrete was evidence enough that something was very wrong. They had arrived, and any semblance of normalcy Sam clung to dissipated into nothing.
Directed by Michael Sarnoski, “A Quiet Place: Day One” captures the series of events immediately following an alien invasion in New York City. The rules are simple: If they hear you, they hunt you. A prequel to the “A Quiet Place” trilogy created by Sarnoski and John Krasinski, the film follows Sam, a terminally ill cancer patient, as she makes the perilous trek to Harlem for a slice of pizza. Along the way, she crosses paths with Eric (Joseph Quinn), a terrified Englishman who wishes for nothing more than to live.
However, despite the brilliant cinematography, thrilling jump scares and phenomenal acting, viewers are advised to reset their expectations, as “A Quiet Place: Day One” is not for the faint of heart.
Almost immediately after the aliens land, their appearance is revealed in a full-body shot against the backdrop of skyscrapers, eliminating mystery and reducing them from an invincible and omnipresent force to less frightening creatures of gaugeable size and strength.
The first film, “A Quiet Place,” was drastically different, as all the audience saw were blurry shapes and flashes of talons — the creature’s full appearance was not revealed until much later. But without a “fear of the unknown” factor instilled in “Day One,” the film evokes a weaker emotional reaction from the audience, making them bystanders, rather than active participants fully immersed in the narrative.
The film is repetitive and consists of similar alien confrontations across different settings that Sam and Eric eventually outrun. The lack of variation in conflict and intensity in the action sequences quickly grows boring due to the predictable nature of their outcomes, which can diminish viewer engagement. In turn, this lessens the sense of catharsis viewers experience, as they are left dissatisfied from the absence of gut-wrenching scenes that bring emotional release when resolved. As a quintessential element of the horror genre, the absence of such a reaction is inexcusable.
The film constitutes five main characters, but Sam is often depicted alone. The audience’s focus is directed to her, fostering a sense of intimacy that enables a greater understanding of the emotions that plague her. Whether it’s the eye-bulging terror when she’s confronted with an alien or the labored breathing after days on foot, the stakes are heightened as viewers become advocates for Sam’s survival.
The film uses many distant shots of a solo Sam walking the vacant New York City streets, strategically making her appear smaller against the background. The comparison highlights her position of utter powerlessness as one individual fighting against a sea of extraterrestrial killers. Not only does this evoke strong emotions of pity and frustration, but also emphasizes the theme of loneliness throughout the film.
Serendipitous or not, Eric crash lands into Sam’s life and stays close on her tail despite her persistent efforts to shake him off. Even so, their reluctant tolerance for each other gradually morphs into affection, as one is unable to exist without the other. No longer alone, they become each other’s responsibility, making them all the more vulnerable.
Concerning the side characters, it’s safe to say that Sam’s cat, Frodo (played by animal actors Schnitzel and Nico), is a paid actor with a generous amount of screen time. For Sam, Frodo is a familiar face serving as an anchor in times of utter chaos. Oftentimes, he is seen jumping headfirst into the wreckage and always scampers ahead of his human companions. In a way, Frodo’s air of nonchalance serves as a beacon of strength for Sam as her determination wanes.
Upon reaching Harlem, Sam’s eyes close momentarily as she relishes the taste of pizza — grinning from ear to ear as she basks in the light streaming in through a cracked window. Whether it’s Frodo or a slice of cold pizza, this reinforces the importance of appreciating life’s simple pleasures that keeps one afloat amid a cruel world.
Like opposite sides of a coin, “A Quiet Place: Day One” is nowhere similar to the previous two films within the trilogy. While “A Quiet Place” and “A Quiet Place Part II” emphasize strong family ties and heroic acts, this film highlights the everyday loneliness the ordinary individual feels. This is a must-watch, and it’s guaranteed to leave viewers in a state of deep thought.
