A Quiet Place: Day One – Movie Reviews by Ry!

A Quiet Place: Day One – Unspoken Memories: A Character Tale of Silence

To think about film is to ask the question; what is it that you want to see?  When you walk into a theater, is it the aspect of the journey, the wherewithal of the characters or the emotional grip of the experience.  No matter what brings you in, there is always a notion that within the totality, the escape is eventful.  With any film, if you can feel that genuine escape (no matter the genre), there is a chance you will have a good time.  In this review, I look at the latest chapter within a world of silence.  Even within its prequel foundation, A Quiet Place: Day One is a provoking narrative that showcases humanities’ worth at the end of days. 

This is the story about Sam (Lupita Nyong’o) a young woman trying to survive the early days of an alien invasion that leads to everything … going silent.  Within the idea of storytelling, there is a sense of building from a foundation within a totality of the world.  With franchises, filmmakers like to branch off in many directions (spinoffs, sequels), looking to blend their own unique aesthetics within an established film universe.  A balancing act comes into play, one that brings about franchise awareness while leading into a new chapter to an ever-growing narrative.  With this latest chapter, the film goes back to the initial invasion, but puts the focus on a different location (New York City) and a new character (Sam).  In the beginning, we come into her world through the ‘drop in’ method, learning about her daily struggles in a hospice, dealing with patients and her own cancer diagnosis.  After a series of conversational like moments and convenient plot elements, we lead into a frenetic sequence of ominous attacks, heavy atmospheric destruction and unbeknownst like turmoil.  After the panic settles (for a bit), we follow Sam as she moves from block to block, trying to make her way to Harlem for a specific reason (plot point).  This personal mission becomes the catalyst of the film, as you witness the irony of calm and tension as she tries to evade these creatures while embarking on her destination.  From this point, the narrative weaves through the simplicity of its setup, providing an onlook to the raw terror and calamity.  What the filmmakers do is veer away from the cliché antics of the genre to create a leveling of characterization that parallels the onslaught of the unknown.  The strength of the character within the horror/thriller mantra creates a genuine feel within the overall experience of the situation.  This showcase provides a strong chapter within the franchise. 

With Sam dedicated to this specific mission, circumstances drive her to pick up a human companion by the name of Eric (Joseph Quinn).  With a new person in the fray, it builds upon the characterized dynamic, providing another leveling to the situation of caution and survivability.  As they make their way to Harlem, Sam and Eric stand within a conversation of revelations, leading to moments of reflection, purpose and zeal.  Within these solemn moments, it brings about a thematic relevance to the fragility of realism and tragedy within the ongoing invasion.  As the truth of the moment draws near, it leads to a third act that is emotionally tense but heavily telegraphed.  Even with a predictable climax, the film heads into a great thoughtful like sendoff.  A Quiet Place: Day One provides a characterized chapter within its own creative world.  If you are a fan of the series, character driven tales or tense like thrillers, this is one for you.  I believe this is worth the full price of admission.    

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)