A Quiet Place: Day One

Directed by Michael Sarnoski, A Quiet Place: Day One follows a disparate pair (Lupita Nyong’o’s Sam and Joseph Quinn’s Eric) as they attempt to survive during the initial invasion by the series’ deadly aliens. Filmmaker Sarnoski, armed with his own screenplay, delivers a watchable yet somewhat disappointing endeavor that ultimately fares best in its promising, engaging opening half hour, as the picture kicks off with a gripping pre-credits stretch that effectively establishes Nyong’o’s sympathetic figure and the world-ending scenario in which she finds herself – with the compelling atmosphere heightened by several stirring sequences and a series of strong performances. (This is, in terms of the latter, to say nothing of the terrific work by the felines portraying Sam’s brave kitty, Frodo.) It’s disappointing to note, then, that A Quiet Place: Day One‘s grip on the viewer is loosened considerably by a hit-and-miss midsection, as Sarnoski places the emphasis on a series of tension-free set-pieces that are hardly as unable to pack the engrossing punch one might’ve anticipated (and hoped for) – with this particularly true of a fairly endless sequence set inside an abandoned bar. (It’s clear, as well, that the lack of character development for Nyong’o and Quinn’s respective characters exacerbates the uninvolving vibe, with, especially, Sam coming off as a confusingly despondent figure who seems interested only in procuring a slice of pizza.) The inclusion of a thrilling climax does, at least, ensure that the whole thing concludes on a decidedly positive note, thus cementing A Quiet Place: Day One‘s place as a decent-enough endeavor that feels like it should be much, much better (ie this rarely, if ever, reaches the highs attained by both A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place: Part II).

**1/2 out of ****