A Quiet Place: Day One

⭐️ ⭐️ ( out of 5)

A Quiet Place entered theatres with a silent bang, proving that horror could be innovative and even have heart. The brilliant use of sound made for an unforgettable experience that still sends chills up the proverbial spines of audiences today. John Krasinski’s breakout hit and subsequent follow-up created a refreshing spin on a tried and true genre as viewers fell in love with the Abbot family as they navigated the hushed atmosphere of life after the alien invasion.

In the third chapter, writer/director Michael Sarnoski (Pig) takes us back to the first day these creatures invaded Earth and began wreaking havoc on humanity. Sam (Lupita Nyong'o) is a hospice patient who had reluctantly joined a tour group that had gone to New York City for a show. Yet, no one could have imagined how this day of entertainment would turn into an apocalyptic horror that would change the world irrevocably. As the aliens tear through the population of the Big Apple, they seem to be relegated to the city's main island, leading to the military destroying all bridges onto the main island. Sam, her support cat and fellow survivors must do all they can to quietly make their way to the escape ferries before the carnivorous space invaders find them.

For those drawn into this franchise by John Krasinski’s original concept, it is worth saying that the only aspect from the first films included in this newest film would be the creatures. Granted, Djimon Hounsou (Gran Turismo) does reprise his role from the second film. Still, there isn’t enough connection to his character to allow anyone to care. This leaves the concept to be redefined by a new director and storyteller who draws from so many other films that it is hard to celebrate the originality of the initial outing. There are whispers of I Am Legend, Escape From New York, Aliens and World War Z in every step of Michael Sarnoski’s screenplay, which makes the whole thing somewhat predictable and pedestrian.

Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn (Overlord) do their best with their characters. Nyong'o is especially committed to her role and carries the film through to the end, even when she has to act with a cat. This feline inclusion has to be one of the weakest aspects of this disjointed storyline. Suspension of disbelief was pushed to the limit when they added a baby in the second film and expected audiences to believe it would remain quiet. Yet, thinking that a cat would do everything this animal does without making a noise became inexplicable for anyone who knows anything about cats. And this wasn’t the only problem with this film. A few issues would have to be how the streets of New York City became quickly abandoned in one day, which was so unbelievable that no amount of destruction could support this aspect of this pseudo-zombie tale.

A Quiet Place: Day One has transitioned from innovation to an unimaginative horror film that dabbles in great films that came before it. John Krasinski’s vision has become a quiet echo of itself and fails to honour the brilliance of its origins.

Reel Dialogue: Legacy: How can pizza help a memory to live on?

One redeeming aspect of this film is Sam’s motivation to get a slice of pizza before leaving the city. It all initially seems odd, but as this aspect of the story unfolds, all points to her love of her father and jazz. This element does provide a few endearing moments in a relatively forgettable script.

Yet, this aspect was bittersweet once everything was explained in the latter portions of the film. It does beg the question of what your legacy amounts to in the end. Is it the memories and people you leave behind? There must be more. Leaving a legacy involves far more than music, pleasant memories, or pizza. Why? It only takes one or two generations, and those things will blow away or be forgotten.

Not to diminish the value of relationships or caring for your family's future, but the only real legacy that holds up into eternity is the one with God. Within the Christian tradition, this can only be found with belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God and Saviour of the world. This is genuinely the only legacy that lasts.

If you do not agree, cool. But why not take a moment to consider it. It cannot hurt to explore the idea of living and leaving behind a real legacy for your family.

An excellent place to start: Check out this talk by Dr Sam Chan on Extraordinary Legacy

If you would enjoy talking about the themes of the film, contact our team at Third Space. We can start the conversation and connect you with those who can help you find the answer.