A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE – 2024
Directed by Michael Sarnoski
Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Cain Aiden, Jennifer Woodward, Elijah Ungvary, and Djimon Hounsou
Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror Thriller (Audio clip)
Consider me impressed and a bit surprised....but this third entry in the reliable A Quiet Place saga is the type of apocalyptic disaster drama which Roland Emmerich (and others) has been trying to pull off for almost 30 years. :) It not only has a heart and soul but unlike most other attempts to nail the end-of-the-world spectacle epic which can effectively pull the heartstrings - 2012, Armageddon, Knowing, Deep Impact, Signs, you name it - this version EARNS that heart with thoughtful direction and excellent performances.
As much as I have generally enjoyed at least sections of apocalyptic disaster movies going back to their '90's hey day, let's face it...most of those movies were generally poorly acted, bloated in structure, or just inevitably lazy with regards to how they were resolved. (Yeah ID4, I'm looking at you...MacPro's were apparently incompatible with every other brand EXCEPT for alien command ships) That's not the case here as this film for one thing is a bit shorter (100 minutes) than most of those others and never bites off more than it can chew when it comes to scope or scale. We're not constantly cutting to side characters subplots nor given perfunctory spectacle which has no real basis in the story. (WHY exactly did we need to cut to Manhattan in Deep Impact or Paris in Armageddon? Probably because it looked cool at the time) It's pretty much entirely focused one area of one city and mainly only two characters.....and this story is better for that!
Writer/director Michael Sarnoski (Pig, which I still need to see) had delivered yet another Alien-invasion-takes-Manhattan movie which gratefully does not feel like ANY other Alien-invasion-takes-Manhattan movie. ;) We get all of the necessary spectacle we have come to expect but this is as much of a character piece as anything - the initial main character is Samira, played by Oscar-winner Lupita N'yongo, a cynical New Yorker who is somewhat of a loner (except for her cat Frodo) and it's initially mostly from HER POV that we witness the initial insanity of this invasion. This all takes place before the previous A Quiet Place movies and the central conceit is once again xenomorph-sized aliens with very complicated physiology who are only attracted to sound and will tear you apart once they hear you and find you. :o
Now whereas the two previous films took place mainly around quieter rural areas, this time around there's a massive hoard of them drawn in by the constant cacophony of 90 decibel sounds emanating from the city that never sleeps. And the movie (once again with fantastic sound design like the previous two) had some fun with this new setting. 🤫 You would think - or I would have least thought - that when it comes to a place like Manhattan, you could have the advantage of massive insulated skyscrapers where you could make any number of noises and the aliens outside simply wouldn't hear it.
But you (or me actually) would be WRONG because this is SUCH an exhaustive, thorough force that you will always find at least one sweeping through every building...so be wary of sliding doors with unexpected obstructions waiting on the other side, reverberating windows of lobbies which echo sounds, or even the hum of generators or printers. Because UNLIKE creeping through your own farmhouse or the local general store of the previous two films, you can never be entirely sure of what's waiting around the corner throughout a cavernous building you don't know.
Eventually Samira is joined by a young British expat lawyer Eric played by Joseph Quinn and the two form a touching bond in their quest to not only survive this invasion but also to reach one particular goal amidst all of this insanity. I won't dare spoil anything else because there is ONE key aspect of one of these characters which amazingly has NOT (!) been spoiled at all in the marketing for this big summer movie. It caught me by surprise, I was grateful for it, and it really helped add a new dimension to the story. I found myself caring very much about both of these characters, even moreso Lupita who proves again with this and her dual role in Us that she is one of our best living actresses who can elevate even the pulpiest of material.
It's probably a bit lazy to call her a 21st Century Sigourney Weaver (for one thing, Sigourney's still going strong) even though a lot of what she's doing here (especially with that cat) feels akin to Weaver in that first Alien movie.....but she just brings such natural humor, determination, and humanity to this story, you could be forgiven for making that comparison. Quinn is also fantastic - this is the first time I have seen him but apparently he's on the come up thanks to his work in "Stranger Things" and I can see why.
Best Needle-drop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film):
Well the film IS called “A QUIET Place: Day One” right? So yes this movie is VERY quiet – regardless there is a pretty solid orchestral score throughout which conveys all necessary emotions from composer Alexis Grapsas. Beyond that, there IS one very cliched but still very effective needle-drop at one key point in the movie which I won’t spoil…..we have heard this song used in many, many movies and TV shows before so I’m find retiring it. But still it REALLY works here – I’m referring to the late, great singer Eunice Kathleen Waymon…..otherwise known as Nina Simone. While I think it would be nice if filmmakers decided to use a different song for a change from the legendary jazz singer, this song is undeniably catchy and can always put me in a good mood. From Simone’s 1965 album “I Put a Spell on You,” the song is the ever-popular….”Feeling Good.” (Audio clip)
Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):
The movie has several effective suspenseful set pieces though if I had ONE criticism, it would be that they are always the most effective when you canNOT see the entire design of the alien creature. When we hear one coming in the distance, catch a leg smashing into the frame, or see smoke-filled chaos surrounding their carnage, the movie is at its most terrifying. But sorry and I guess this was always there with the previous movies...I'm just NOT a fan of the overall design of these creatures. 😕 There's just way too much going on, too many limbs and flower-petal like portions of their heads.....with apparently ear-drums vibrating throughout....they just seem like such overcomplicated, cumbersome creatures that I find them less scary the more I see of them.
This movie has its share of long shots if swarms of these things climbing buildings and it just never worked as well for me. It's not the fault of the CGI which is actually pretty well-rendered and it's certainly not Sarnoski's fault as he inherited this design - I think it just comes down to how much you show. This is nothing new either: I always found the lone, mostly-in-shadow xenomorph of Ridley Scott's first Alien film SIGNIFICANTLY scarier than the full-view versions we would eventually see in his prequel Alien Covenant. Yes in many cases, LESS is STILL more....somethings never change in genres like these. 🫡
Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):
Roughly about fifteen minutes into the film is when this alien attack on the island of Manhattan REALLY begins….and it starts while Lupita’s Samira outside on the street where she starts hearing chaotic sounds in the distance…..which start to get closer and closer….and with them comes more smoke and fire….when suddenly we can see streaks of light coming from the sky, only they’re not actually streaks of light. And what follows is about ten minutes of pretty terrifying chaos with a few explosions thrown in – it’s during this sequence when we barely get a glimpse of the creature except mostly obstructed views/quick glances of parts of them grabbing people. Now on paper, there is nothing particularly original about this horror/suspense set piece….but as executed with how it almost entirely focuses on Samira’s POV, it’s one of the best of its kind. (Audio clip)
MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):
I was kind of torn about this one so I’m going to spread the wealth. While this IS very much a director’s movie with strong visuals, fantastic sound design, and good pacing….you still need top-flight performances at its core to help it soar a bit. As a result, Michael Sarnoski and Lupita Nyongo are your CO-MVP’s. (Audio clip)
Final Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Overall this was still a highly effective sci-fi horror tale touching on life and death....with an ending that I absolutely LOVED despite some cheesy elements. It's still so gratifying after this, Challengers, Dune Part Two, and even the acid conclusion of Civil War.....this feels like year when Hollywood FINALLY remembered how to properly END movies again! I had thought it was a lost art. 😁 Excellent film, definitely the best of the franchise so far.
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And that ends another DISQUIETING review!
