A Quiet Place: Day One is a 2024 post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller film written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, based on an original story by John Krasinski and Sarnoski. It is intended to be a spin-off prequel, and the third overall installment of the A Quiet Place film series.
When New York City comes under attack from an alien invasion, a woman and other survivors try to find a way to safety. They soon learn that they must remain absolutely silent as the mysterious creatures are drawn to the slightest sound.
The cast includes Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, and Denis O'Hare.
A Quiet Place: Day One made its debut in theaters June 28th, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
I still vividly remember seeing the original A Quiet Place (our full review here) movie in theaters back in 2018, and wow what an experience that turned out to be. Now the premise of the films is unique obviously, but you don’t quite realize how unique until you’re sitting in a dark movie theater scared to chew your popcorn. Seriously, you could hear a pin drop in the theater and that in itself speaks volumes (pun intended) about this franchise and the original film in particular in terms of just how hard it hit viewers.
I was no joke anxious the entire film, and part of the genius of A Quiet Place was the fact that it felt so personal because viewers were experiencing the film through the eyes of this family as they attempted to survive this incredibly relentless threat. I genuinely cared for the family portrayed in the first film, and that part of it all proved to be an integral part of the success for this franchise.
Fast forward 6 years or so and here we are with A Quiet Place: Day One, ironically a film that came out years later but actually tells the origin story of the terrifying creatures wreaking havoc for the characters in this franchise. Now first a simple question, did we need a prequel film? My answer, an emphatic HELL YES!! Seriously, A Quiet Place: Day One is just so damn good on so many levels, whether it be as a standalone film or a film that improves the franchise as a whole. This really was THAT good, simple as that.
Now as I talked about the seemingly simple yet effective recipe for success as it relates to this franchise is focusing on just a few characters as they do whatever they can to survive this never-before-seen threat is alive and well here. A Quiet Place: Day One has it all, a heartfelt story, tense action, next-level visuals and technical elements including an amazing score and ridiculous camera work, which all come together to create one of the better sci-fi thrillers I have experienced in quite some time.
The story blew me away as it was so much more emotional than I expected it to be. It is no easy feat creating a prequel film with characters that have no connection to the characters in the other films, and the direction they decided to take with this screenplay was without a doubt the way to go. The films primary antagonist is incredibly sympathetic yet strong-willed and I felt connected to her immediately. The circumstances surrounding this character are unique in the sense that she is already navigating significant life challenges before she is thrust into an alien attack that threatens the future of mankind. The story resonated with me in a way that I did not expect as it stuck with me well after the end-credits.
I just loved everything A Quiet Place: Day One brought to the table, but the cast absolutely crushed it. Lupita Nyong'o is in a league of her own as always, playing the pivotal role of the films primary antagonist, Samira. Nyong'o is an incredibly talented actress, and one of her many strengths is the fact that her acting talents go well beyond the dialogue and that really shines here. She is so strong yet so sympathetic at the same time, and boy oh boy is that amazing final scene just seared into my brain for all of eternity. Give this woman all the roles because she really is that good.
My guy Djimon Hounsou plays a small role but he shows up and makes a big impact as he always does. He is just one of those actors that always exudes a certain level of pure confidence when he is on-screen. Alex Wolff, who has been killing it over the last several years with Hereditary, Jumanji: The Next Level, and Pig, was really good here as well.
To be honest I didn’t even recognize Wolff with his beard and long hair, but something about him felt familiar and comforting. His chemistry with Nyong’o was very important for the success of the film and he was a big part of that. Feline lovers are in for a treat as well thanks to a sweet and tough as nails emotional support cat that is along for the ride. Just brace yourself because the idea that cats have 9 lives is put to the test.
I need to talk about actor Joseph Quinn, someone who is fairly unknown at least to me. When he first showed up in the film I expected him to be more of a passerby type character but his role became pivotal to the film and I was genuinely impressed with his performance. Quinn plays Eric, a man that Samira comes across as she is making her way through the city.
She makes it clear to him she prefers to travel solo, but he is simply too terrified to be alone and follows her anyway. The bond that forms between Samira and Eric is nothing short of amazing, and their relationship is the beating heart of the films amazing story. A Quiet Place: Part One is an intense sci-fi thriller but it is also a story of courage, resilience, and the power of human connection.
On the technical side of things A Quiet Place: Day One is nothing short of incredible. I really liked the feel of the film right from the start as it felt more like a meaningful drama film than it did a sci-fi thriller just trying to set the stage for an alien attack. The film really just has so many layers that, by the end of it, make for much more of an emotional rollercoaster than I was expecting.
The story was great as I talked about already, but many of you want to hear about the alien threat that overtakes the city; rest assured because they are absolutely terrifying. The actual attack happens very fast so everything is a bit of a blur at first as Samira attempts to navigate her way to safety. She is knocked out briefly and wakes up with the realization that the enemy preys on sound and absolute silence is the only way to survive.
The creatures look incredible, and I loved how they moved with such ferocity throughout the city leaving disaster in their wake. I admit I was holding my breath during the majority of this movie as the tension was no joke. One thing that has helped set this franchise apart is the ability to be vast in terms of overall scale while still maintaining that intimate feel which is crucial for helping to make sure viewers genuinely care for the characters. Huge shoutout to the entire team working behind the scenes for delivering top-notch visuals, amazing sound, excellent cinematography, and just the overall production value you expect from a big-budget film.
THE VERDICT
An edge-of-your-seat sci-fi thriller featuring terrific performances and a raw and heartfelt story, A Quiet Place: Day One is a unique experience and the rare prequel that puts the franchise on another level. I simply loved this movie from start to finish, and as I talked about during the review the fact that the story got to me the way it did was absolutely a surprise. Hats off to writer and director Michael Sarnoski for one hell of a film that without a doubt cements A Quiet Place as a top-tier sci-fi thriller franchise.
Bottom line, I already loved these movies and I love them even more now, and I will be re-watching the first two films immediately. I don’t care if you see A Quiet Place: Day One in a standard theater or go big with the IMAX, but you absolutely need to see this movie on the big-screen as soon as possible.
TED TAKES RATING - 9.1/10
A Quiet Place: Day One is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.