A Quiet Place: Day One

Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Eliane Umuhire
Directed by: Michael Sarnoski
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Horror, Science Fiction
2024

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: New York City is invaded by deadly alien creatures and a woman (Lupita Nyong'o) fights for survival.

Review:

Tim: After delivering two standout horror films, the A Quiet Place franchise goes the prequel route for the third film. This time, we see the beginning stages of the alien invasion, following new characters. So, what do we think? It's pretty clear to me that this is a good film- Michael Sarnoski manages to deliver an entertaining, serviceable horror film that's better than a lot of movies in the genre. However, it's also clearly multiple tiers below the previous two movies in the franchise. So, while this is a good film and we should always celebrate good horror, it's a bit disappointing that this franchise came back to Earth a bit with this film.

The central issue here is that the main characters aren't nearly as interesting or compelling as the Abbott family. The original movie did a fantastic job of building those characters, so we truly cared about them. That doesn't happen here. Oh sure, the main characters are fine and we're somewhat interested in seeing their story. However, it feels like the focus shifted off character development a bit. We get some impressive visual sequences, but we don't deeply connect with or understand these characters to the same extent. The cast is good, the issues definitely stem from what they had to work with.

I found Lupita Nyong'o hamstrung by her character. Nyong'o is such a terrific actress and she delivers a strong performance. I'm very unclear on why they would choose a dying woman as the protagonist in a horror film. The whole point of movies like this is to survive. To have your main character's fate decided long before the opening scene felt so pointless. Why should we invest deeply in this character? Oh sure, there's legitimate interest in who she is, what her life has been like. But, I never felt much intensity or angst about this person, who was literally dying before the film began. Such an odd decision that doesn't quite work. Similarly, I like Joseph Quinn and I thought he gave a good performance. It's been fun seeing Quinn's star rise in recent years. However, his character feels like an afterthought. With all the whispering and quiet, I never felt like I knew anything about him. He's a surface-level character. Why should I care, why should I become invested in his fate? For much of the film, Nyong'o's character is exasperated and dismissive of Quinn's. So, the main character isn't even a fan of this secondary one until far too late in the film. Nyong'o and Quinn give good performances, but these characters weren't great and don't stand up to scrutiny.

I did think Alex Wolff gave a nice supporting performance. Sure, we never know much about his character, but his acting is good and he makes a nice connection with Nyong'o. I loved seeing Djimon Hounsou here, but was so frustrated that the film kept him on the margins the entire time. Why cast Hounsou and then give him so little to do? It didn't make much sense. Now, I know I'm doing a lot of complaining here. The reality is that these characters are better developed than a ton of horror movies. The issue is that it's a clear drop-off from the first two films in the franchise.

Without great characters, everything else feels a little less effective. Sure, the visuals are impressive. The story has some twists and turns and these characters are definitely put into dangerous situations. It's obviously entertaining to watch people trying to survive against alien creatures whose hunting method relies upon sound. It was a brilliant idea in the original and the concept still works wonders here. This movie might start out pretty slow, but it does deliver some solid sequences throughout its run time. Wisely, the movie is tightly-focused and doesn't overstay its welcome.

So, yes, I enjoyed A Quiet Place: Day One. It works as a prequel and it broadens the scope of this world. However, the first two films were great, standout horror films that made it on my Top 10 of the Year lists. This film isn't remotely close to that. It's good, it's entertaining, but it's nothing special.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
A Quiet Place, A Quiet Place Part II, 10 Cloverfield Lane