A Quiet Place: Day One

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I liked this entry to the series, but I do feel like 'A Quiet Place' is another name in movies in which nothing can quite live up to the original - a trait similarly held by series like 'Jurassic Park' and 'The Matrix'. That first film can totally stand on its own as a modern classic, and may even be historical in its own way, but from then on, it's largely a collection of cash-in projects. Thankfully, sometimes there's a bit more heart put into some, and it applies here (for me) as at least being better than the second, which felt almost too 'Walking Dead' at times.

It's also another movie that seems to have audiences incredibly split, which are the types of movies I love to review as, admittedly, nothing sways me one way or the other. In other words, I go into the film with neither high, nor low expectations, can (hopefully) enjoy the film for what it is, and, in my reviews, not sound like I'm picking a side to sound like either a "one-percenter" or the latest passenger of a popular bandwagon. So, without further adieu, let's get into this 'Quiet Place' prequel.

Our protagonist here is Samira (Lupita Nyong'o), who kicks off the film with her understandable pessimism, as she's living in a hospice, stricken with terminal cancer, and her only joy in life is her service cat, Frodo (Nico... that's right, animals get credited too). Despite the way her life is, however, they make her pretty hard to like in the beginning. She's not terrible or anything, just a bit of a brat about things. That said, that's also part of what I liked about this movie; her development throughout.

One day, one of the nurses, Reuben (Alex Wolff) convinces her to attend a marionette show in Manhattan, which was, in my opinion, a very well done scene that not only shows that Sam's not such a rough person to deal with, but if you really dig into it, it could be seen as largely symbolic for what's about to happen, be it to her with her terminal cancer or the more grounded fact that they're all about to be invaded by those sound-seeking alien creatures we've come to know from the last couple of movies.

The film then picks up, and carries us through a lot of intensity as this invasion is going on. She soon meets Henri (Djimon Hounsou) who comes across as the guy in charge of a group who are meant to be hidden and quiet until someone can rescue them. Eventually this, of course, leads the now cooped up Sam to set out on her own for Harlem, along with her cat, and it's all survival horror/thriller/action from there. By the way, cat-lovers, just to be a jerk, I will not spoil Frodo's fate. It truly adds to the intensity of things, and that's what these films do best.

I think if I have to end up giving one thing to all three of these movies across the board, it's that they provide a really good atmosphere of intensity and suspense. We never know when something's gonna happen, and when it's unexpected it's more satisfying for us horror fans. The whole concept of these movies, about having to stay quiet in order to survive is kind of a stroke of genius. Sure, the idea of surviving by being silent is nothing new, but I'm hard-pressed to think of that concept as a full-length feature before the first of these.

My final thoughts on the film are nothing short of it adding to a solid series of good, suspenseful horror. Although I have my nitpicks about the second film, I'd say this is a solid series all the way through for the average viewer. I stick to my guns on the first one being more of a modern classic, and nothing that follows in the series will probably top it. But at least this didn't just get worse and worse as it went on. If you liked the first tqo, definitely give this one a shot as well.

4/5

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