A woman, her cat, & the strangers she meets along the way trying to avoid monsters
I had high hopes for the A Quiet Place prequel with the incomparable Lupita Nyong who is center stage the first day the aliens land in NYC. It’s the city that never sleeps and it’s LOUD as Samira (Lupida Nyong’o) heads to the city for a fun day out as she grapples with medical issues. She brings her trusted cat expecting Broadway and pizza but the cosmos has other plans.
The film met and surpassed my high hopes and then some. First I saw it in Imax and it was so crisp and clear that I could see the glances and read emotions in the eyes when they couldn’t speak. Michael built a word and Samira with Frodo is front and center from the start. As they begin what should be a normal day explodes into chaos with the unwelcome visitors telling everyone ‘shut the heck up’.
It’s jump scare … jump scare <Scream> for me and it’s exactly what I wanted and was still unexpected for this thoughtful horror film that explores being alone, allowing yourself to be emotionally vulnerable, and trying to avoid monstrous creatures. All that she had before the landing was Frodo (Nico/Schnitzel) who offered her comfort at the medical facility as she grappled with her health she slowly lost herself fighting a losing battle with the nurse trying to build connections between the patients but she was not interested.
I’m a fan of the Quiet Place universe and fell in love with the idea of being silent to avoid being attacked but I would DIE. I startle easily (will jump and yell), and am too clumsy to go undetected but the connection between Samira and Henri (Djimon Hounsou) as he silences her <chills> it’s the look between them as she relaxes once they made eye contact while shshing her. They connected because she remembered talking to his child and the instant trust seeing someone that looked like her. Her slow acceptance of Eric (Joseph Quinn) who follows her around like a lost puppy (shellshocked) and slowly goes from unwanted companion as he becomes a shoulder to cry and able to depend on when she allows herself moments of sweet memories and not having to be alone danced in my mind. Michael weaves moments as the survivors try to get to safety and hold onto each other, humanity and self-preservation.
The little moments that go beyond words are photos, a book, music, her cat, and seeing parental love keeps Samira holding on as she heads to Brooklyn while trying to outrun monsters.
Michael Sarnoski (Director/Writer) builds on Joshn Krasinski and Bryan Woods universe as they wrote a new chapter that ties what we learned in the previous films following a family with creating bonds between strangers.
A Quiet Place: Day One is a great expansion of the universe and I’m giving it 4 popcorns
Out now nationwide
Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou
DIRECTOR Michael Sarnoski
Producer John Krasinski, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller
Writer Michael Sarnoski
PG-13
1hr 40 minutes
Imax, Dolby, Open Caption, Laser
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