Since the beginning of the motion picture art form, on-screen visitors from outer space have arrived on Earth, often being up to no good regarding the human population. The reverse is also true, with earthlings eager to explore what lies beyond their planet’s atmosphere.
There are hundreds of movies about encountering extraterrestrials. Everyone has their favorite or favorites. I think some of the classics from the 1950s are still the most fun, regardless of how many times they’ve been remade. If you want a family-size triple feature, you can’t go wrong with these originals: “Invaders From Mars” (1953), “The War Of The Worlds” (1954), and “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers” (1956).
Enter the extraterrestrials from the successful “A Quiet Place” franchise, films that are so good they’ve earned the right to be called prestigious movies. In “A Quiet Place” (2018) and “A Quiet Place Part Two” (2020), the creatures from outer space were shrouded mostly in mystery, although we certainly got glimpses of them in order to generate shrieks of horror.
With the new prequel, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” the monsters are tangible. The first two movies had emotion, heart, and tension. They are superbly acted, and from a production standpoint are excellent examples of how to make good-looking science fiction thrillers that live and breathe fear and terror. The dread rises from the fact that the monsters are completely blind and have extraordinary hearing capability. Additionally, they can destroy much of what they attack, especially steel. On the negative side for them, their bodies, albeit on the lean side, are so dense that they can’t swim in deep water. This will be an important factor as the story progresses.
The driving force behind the three “A Quite Place” pictures is actor John Krasinski, who is involved in either directing, writing, producing, or acting in the first two films. Regarding “A Quiet Place: Day One,” Krasinski co-wrote the original story with the movie’s director-screenwriter, Michael Sarnoski, and he also co-produced. Krasinski has revealed that “A Quiet Place: Part III” is in the works for a planned 2025 release. “A Quiet Place Part Two was notably shot in Western New York, including in Akron, the Tonawandas, Olcott, Buffalo, and, famously, the Grand Island Bridge.
The new film, which is now in theaters, focuses on Samira (wonderfully acted by Lupita Nyong’o), who is a poet living with late-stage cancer in a New York City hospice. She is ready for her life to come to an end. She has a service cat named Frodo, who is her closest companion and figures prominently in the picture. A nurse named Reuben (nicely played by Alex Wolff) encourages Samira to maintain a sense of hope.
During a pleasant group outing from the hospice, things quickly change from happy to nightmarish when the horrific blind monsters, who stalk humanity by the sounds people make, start to fall from the sky. The invasion has begun. The brutal slaughter of civilians is relentless.
As the city is besieged, Samira realizes she does not want to die from a savage attack by an invader. It’s a clever and completely believable aspect of the screenplay that she wants to survive. She encounters a terrified law student named Eric (perfectly acted by Joseph Quinn). They team up and follow government orders to try and reach evacuation boats to be able to escape the aliens. Their odyssey is an expertly crafted flight to keep themselves alive.
The vast urban landscape of the city, from its skyscrapers to its subways, is flawlessly utilized. The city’s buildings and streets are filled with traps. The narrative is breathlessly exciting. Surprises occur throughout the film.
Samira’s dedication to Frodo the cat, who is always by her side, proves how kindhearted a person she is. Her panic is something she underplays. Eric exhibits his fear at every turn. Samira is no longer afraid of death, and she encourages the frightened Eric to stay focused on escaping the creatures. For his part, he is utterly terrified of death. No one wants to die being eaten alive by blind monsters, who can hear a city rat breathe. Director Sarnoski weaves together a heart-pounding, emotion-filled tale of a young woman giving her last days on Earth meaning by protecting not only other people, but also her adored cat.
There’s a humorous, and rather unique, subplot that involves food. Samira wants a slice of pizza from a much-loved pizzeria. Can they get to it? Or will it be unfinished business, a desperate reach for something unattainable? The symbolism is as delicious as the pizza reportedly is. There’s also a memorable character who appeared in “A Quiet Place Part II.” Djimon Hounsou returns as Henri.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” creates its own mythology. It’s a grand adventure that, despite its epic scale, feels intimate. Sarnoski’s razor-sharp writing and laser-like direction expertly celebrate individuals caught up in unimaginable horror. When you give small details to believable characters, and you’ve got a very talented cast building upon those details, the audience is eager to go along for the ride and cheer for everyone.
With its riveting action sequences, the movie more than delivers the goods. The cinematography by Pat Scola and the editing of Andrew Mondshein and Gregory Plotkin are equally outstanding.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” is a very satisfying work, combining exciting thrills with powerful emotions in a way that invigorates science-fiction. It’s fresh and original and breaks new thematic ground. Sarnoski is clearly a very smart and very talented storyteller. This one of the best prequels I’ve seen. The film enhances what came before and delivers new jolts that keep the audience on edge. I haven’t heard shouts and gasps in a theater like those I heard in quite a while.
The summer movie season has a lot to live up to. Cheers to everyone associated with the movie, which does what good science-fiction films should do. It makes you think, and it entertains.