As a movie buff with a deep appreciation for thought-provoking and emotionally resonant films, I was utterly captivated by “A Quiet Place: Day One.” This prequel to the original masterpiece takes us on a journey beyond the alien horror that we’ve come to expect from this franchise. Instead, it invites us to explore the intimate human drama that lies beneath the surface.
To watch “A Quiet Place: Day One” is to recalibrate your senses — not to the alien horror movie you know is in store but rather, to the intimate human drama it hangs onto, long after a lesser film would have given up. Among its lovely images, there’s the distant New York skyline seen beyond a Queens cemetery, a sight familiar to anyone who’s ever driven into town. There are the resigned glances of terminal patients in hospice. Mostly, we take in the exquisite face of Lupita Nyong’o as Sam, a young person in the prime of life stricken with cancer, who carries the unfairness of her situation just below the surface.
As a fan, I’d describe it this way: In the ominous background, soft cries of sirens and piercing roars of fighter jets blend in, setting the tone for any prequel to the chilling “A Quiet Place” (2018) and its sequel “A Quiet Place Part II” (2020), films that left civilization in ruins. The atmosphere is thick with smoke and white ash, a reminder not to evoke painful memories of 9/11. Yet despite the chaos – angry creatures rampaging through the city’s once gleaming glass and steel canyons – there’s an intriguing dedication to the darker corners of post-apocalyptic filmmaking. It’s less about the defiant strength of “Furiosa” and more focused on the harrowing journey depicted in “The Road.”
Sam is already accepting death’s approach in this film, giving it a strikingly somber atmosphere and eliminating the need for the typical survivor planning we often see. Her only desire is to peacefully stroll about 120 blocks north from Chinatown to Harlem. There she hopes to savor the final slices of pizza at Patsy’s before they fade into oblivion.
As a longtime film enthusiast and New Yorker, I find it utterly intriguing to consider the making of a studio film centered around such a rejuvenating, almost revolutionary concept. The image of Sam, carrying a tote bag in hand and her black-and-white companion cat Frodo by her side, instantly brings to mind another iconic woman-and-feline survival tale – “Alien.” Having grown up with that movie, its haunting scenes etched deep into my memory, I can’t help but ponder the fate of NYC’s countless dogs during these invasions. Their barking voices would surely clash with the tetchy sound sensitivities of the extraterrestrial beings, leaving us to wonder about their ability to adapt or coexist in this new, alien world.
Michael Sarnoski, the mastermind behind this project, previously brought a raw, human portrayal from Nicolas Cage as a shattered chef in “Pig.” This film also dealt with personal devastation. Impressively, Sarnoski co-wrote the script with John Krasinski. He skillfully handles the action sequences, including chase scenes through flooded subway tunnels and abandoned landmarks, which were likely demanded by higher authorities.
I follow the story’s development closely, particularly savoring the more intimate moments. One of these stands out – Djimon Hounsou delivers a remarkable performance as a man consumed by guilt and fear, having inadvertently taken a life due to his own panic. The scene is powerful and moving, leaving me on the edge of my seat.
The subplot regarding Sam’s writing career and dashed dreams can be overlooked or appreciated at your discretion. For me, the true beauty lies in a scene where the character enters an abandoned bookstore, selects a worn-out paperback (significantly, “Dawn” by Octavia E. Butler from 1987), and breathes in its scent. This action embodies the appreciation of history preserved in a fragrance. Likewise, she cherishes the remaining aspects of humanity. This film appears to possess extensive knowledge on future emotional states. Let us hope we never experience such melancholy except within the context of an ambitious summer blockbuster.
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2024-07-18 18:31