Review: “A Quiet Place: Day One”

In 2018, John Krasinski brought us the first installment in what would become the “A Quiet Place” series.  It was a near-perfect film and a testament to Krasinski‘s multifaceted talent.  When a sequel was quickly announced, I was a little disappointed. Why dilute such a great film by immediately greenlighting a follow-up cash grab?  I was wrong.  “A Quiet Place Part II” took the story in a different direction, giving the children a powerful arc of their own.  It was brilliant.

Then a third film was announced.  It’s concerning enough that John Krasinski wasn’t returning to write or direct, but this entry would also be a prequel!  Would it be possible for this third entry to match the high bar Part I and Part II had set?

“Day One” takes place over a roughly 48-hour period in New York City beginning the day of the aliens’ arrival.  We first meet Samira (Lupita Nyong’o) and her loyal service cat, Frodo.  Samira has terminal cancer and is bitterly living out the last days of her life at a hospice home just outside of NYC.  She begrudgingly agrees to join a group trip to see a performance in the city after lead nurse Reuben (Alex Wolff) promises to take her to get pizza afterward.  They both know this will be the last slice of real pizza she’s likely to have.

Samira briefly meets Henri (Djimon Hounsou) and his family at the performance, providing a small but important link to the second film.  It’s not long until the aliens arrive and decimate the city.  The remaining citizens only have one chance of survival, making it to the evacuation boats at the nearest dock.  While hoards of people begin making this journey, Samira and Frodo turn against the crowd, venturing deeper into the city in search of the last piece of New York pizza.

For a movie about the end of human civilization as we know it, “Day One” is a surprisingly small, personal story.  The deeper Sam and Frodo find themselves in the city, the more emotional weight we experience.  They eventually cross paths with Eric (Joseph Quinn), a shell-shocked foreigner who doesn’t know anyone else in the city.  At first, Eric tags along because he doesn’t know what else to do, but eventually a friendship is forged between them, fueled by mutual compassion.

It’s easy to see how a movie like this could falter.  It’s a risk to continue a storyline with characters that have virtually no connection to the rest of the series.  It can also be difficult to develop the emotional impact this film is going for without coming across as overly melodramatic. Writer/Director Michael Sarnoski expertly navigates these concerns, crafting a tight story that has just enough heart, humor, and thrills to satisfy everyone in the audience.  If you’ve seen his previous film “Pig”, it quickly becomes clear he was the perfect choice to helm this movie.  Lupita Nyong’o is perfect as always and Joseph Quinn is a fascinating foil to her intensity.   For those who have only seen him in “Stranger Things” as the beloved Eddie Munson, his range and performance in “Day One” is a delightful surprise.

Prequels rarely live up to their predecessors, but “A Quiet Place:Day One” is a valiant and touching attempt to expand on the personal stories in this world.  If you are already a fan of the series, this chapter should not be missed.