A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, and Djimon Hounsou
Director: Michael Sarnoski
AMARÚ
Day One is more a novela than a full-blown prequel, and director Michael Sarnoski was a great choice to make this pensive character study. Instead of focusing on the who, what, when, where, and why of the monsters (a job clearly left for Part 3 to continue), this film utilizes the backdrop of day one to relay a more human story. It’s as minimalist as its predecessor’s sound design, and while it may play a bit inconsequential to some, Joseph Quinn, Lupita Nyong’o, and Djimon Hounsou’s steady performances help Day One build a (somehow) quieter personal touch to this universe.
NICK
I thoroughly enjoyed the invasion scene in A Quiet Place Part II, so I was anticipating a more fleshed-out version of that attack with Day One. That's not what this film is. It instead tells a story of unexpected companionship during a fight for survival, carried by heartfelt showings from the always reliable Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn. It’s fine, good even. It’s also the first time the silence has felt gimmicky. Honestly, this probably would have worked better were it not a Quiet Place film at all. Love story during an invasion? Sure. However, as a prequel to two great films, it doesn’t match up.
ADRIANO
The marketing made me afraid that Day One was gonna stray away from the franchise’s strengths in favour of a larger scale, and I'm happy to say I was wrong. While the film does retread a lot of what we already know and never fully commits to the “day one” concept beyond the tension and silent thrills, writer/director Michael Sarnoski thankfully never compromises what makes this franchise special: its heart. Focused on the growth of its characters and its life-affirming nature, Day One has the emotional baggage for me to forgive its flaws.
PRESTON
Day One needs to be viewed as more of a spinoff than a true prequel. Don’t expect an explanation of where the creatures came from or the larger effects of their arrival. Instead, the story lazily conjures two strangers, with barely adequate development to explain why Lupita Nyong’o’s character wants pizza so damn badly and an added dash of Djimon Hounsou to make it tie together. The production quality is there, but the sound design isn’t impressive, and there is almost zero tension. There are just numerous inconsistencies. A forgivable cat person may enjoy it, but I lack those noble qualities.
QUENTIN
If there is one word to describe Day One, it’s “unnecessary.” It’s an unnecessary prequel telling an unnecessary side story that does little to build upon the world of the first two films. Plus, Joseph Quinn’s character is mostly unnecessary to Sam’s (Lupita Nyong’o) story arc, and Djimon Hounsou is an unnecessary attempt to connect this spinoff to the broader franchise. That said, it’s not terrible; it just fails to justify its own existence. On top of that, you’ve got thinly drawn characters, a lack of scares, and a greatly diminished sense of tension, all of which make for a fairly mediocre experience.
PAIGE
Even though Day One may seem bigger in scale than the other two movies in the franchise, director Michael Sarnoski does a phenomenal job of taking the reins and keeping the tender human moments at the forefront of the story. Not that there isn't any tension; in fact, there's plenty, with a tone reminiscent of Cloverfield. However, the relationship between Lupita Nyong'o’s and Joseph Quinn's characters is what this thriller achieves best. They both deliver such intimate performances and are able to accomplish so much with so little. Day One manages to be another successful chapter in this cinematic universe.
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