REVIEW: 'A Quiet Place: Day One' nudges us to live life meaningfully even as we face death

 

In the prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, published author Samira (Lupita Nyong’o) faces two deaths on two fronts: the cancer that is killing her body, and the Death Angels, blind creatures who prey on anyone who make even the slightest sound. Amid the chaos, all she wanted was a slice of pizza from a restaurant in Harlem. 

Others may perceive her journey across Manhattan to be nihilistic and suicidal. On the contrary, it sends the message of living our lives to the fullest even if one is walking a time-bomb trekking across a minefield of monsters. This film reminds us of the strength of the original A Quiet Place (2018)—a grounded story that can easily resonate with the viewers' struggles.

For cinephiles, Samira's journey can be likened to Luisa, a character from Alfonso Cuarón's Y Tu Mama Tambien. In the film, she chooses to stay on a beautiful beach despite her terminal illness. For comic book fans, it is parallel to Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly's All-Star Superman where Kal-El faces an inevitable demise and sets everything in order before he dies. All these stories remind us to make our days on Earth as meaningful as possible and to take charge of our lives on our terms. 

While he shares a story credit with the film's original creator and former lead actor John Krasinski, director Michael Sarnoski (Pig) should be commended for his strong sense of momentum. Initially, I feared that adding a prequel would put characterization in a back seat as the main two in-continuity films turn into a franchise. But Sarnosky's script is laser-focused on the film's dramatic weight without compromising subtle world-building details.

Far from the relatively safer farm and forest setting of the two previous films, the prequel's location, New York City makes everyone an easy target of the Death Angels. How ironic that the concrete roads and glass windows of skyscrapers can become deathtraps for the remaining humans in A Quiet Place: Day One. 

What makes it a particularly good prequel is that the great story is complemented by great acting performances. I expected nothing less from Oscar winner Nyong’o whose portrayal of a cancer-stricken poet was too mesmerizing and truthful, it is not hard to be moved in tears. 

Actor Joseph Quinn, Marvel Studios' future Human Torch, is a revelation. While we have fallen in love with his quirky, selfless character in Stranger Things as Eddie Munson, this is the first time he showcased his acting chops as Eric, a law student experiencing panic attacks. 

The film's grim atmosphere is balanced by Samira's cat Frodo, played by two kitties named Nico and Schnitzel. While I am not an authority in judging a creature's thespian skills, I can say that its addition to the story highlighted how our seemingly most mundane connections, such as that of an animal, make our lives more precious and sacred. 

Without going into spoiler territory, it reveals some unknown habitation behaviors of the Death Angels, as well as the backstory of Djimon Hounsou's character Henri a.k.a. the Man on the Island from A Quiet Place Part II (2020). This may or may not be hinting at some story elements in A Quiet Place Part III set for release in 2025.

A searing, divinely crafted film, A Quiet Place: Day One is not only a worthy companion piece to the main films but a required watch for the followers of this apocalyptic world. 

A Quiet Place: Day One is now showing in Philippine cinemas.

This article was first published on PhilSTAR Life.