Platinum Dunes goes against its reputation as an IP-cash-in studio with “A Quiet Place: Day One,” a prequel that’s the best and most heartfelt of the series. Although it ties in to the original two films via a key supporting character, this isn’t one of those prequels that explains everything. (For those who do want the sound-sensitive alien monsters explained, I’m sure it’ll happen eventually.)
Cutely riffing on “I Am Legend,” except with a woman and her cat instead of a man and his dog, “A Quiet Place: Day One” is conceived as an indie-esque character piece. It wisely casts Lupita Nyong’o as Sam, one of the rare survivors of the attack in New York City. Also very likeable are an unrecognizably bearded Alex Wolff as Reuben, and Joseph Quinn as Eric. Thankfully they are not allergic to cats in this world where a sneeze means instant death.
Better to be silent and thought a fool … than to die
It’ll sound like I’m being funny, but Nico and Schnitzel are great feline actors as Frodo. More so than ever in this series, “Day One” made me think about what beings and personality types would survive the initial attacks. Writer-director Michael Sarnoski – working from a story co-conceived by series creator John Krasinski – shows us no dogs, no babies and few kids. They’d be too loud to survive.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024)
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Writers: Michael Sarnoski (screenplay, story), John Krasinski (story)
Stars: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff
That said, the Big Apple after the attack isn’t a paradise for introverts, as Sarnoski continues the series’ tradition of tension stemming from the constant need to be quiet. (Again, noise ironically plays an important mood-setting role, with Alexis Grapsas’ score prominent in the mix.) Still, maybe because I’m used to the concept by now, I found the film to not be deathly scary, but instead rather life affirming.
The saga’s tradition of featuring minority-group types continues, as the deaf girl from parts one and two gives way to a terminally ill young woman. Sure, Nyong’o follows – for example – Shailene Woodley from “A Fault in Our Stars” in being quite healthy looking for a dying woman. But she sells it well enough with Sam’s pained need for her meds.
Simply put, it’s really sweet how Sam, Eric and Frodo the cat naturally lean on each other in this apocalypse – although Sam has her initial “leave me alone” stage. Again we have a “Quiet Place” film that shows how communication need not be noisy – and if it’s suddenly required that they not be noisy, people will adjust. Sign language isn’t even required, although a notepad and pen helps.
We know quiet people are more likely to survive than loud folks, but also: Are quiet people … better people? Is that what “A Quiet Place: Day One” is saying? The survivors seem solid and trustworthy across the board. Granting many exceptions, there’s a kernel of truth to that: Bad people tend to be noticeable. We just have to listen for them, like the aliens do.