Rating: Full

Genre: Horror, Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Thriller

Studios: Paramount Pictures/Platinum Dunes/Sunday Night

Cast: Lupita Nyong’O, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou

Director: Michael Sarnoski

Writers: John Krasinski and Michael Sarnoski

Based on: the characters by John Krasinski

Producers: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller and John Krasinski

Music by: Alexis Grapsas

Rated: PG-13 for terror and violent content/bloody images

Release Date: 06/28/24

Runtime: 1h 40m

Tagline: Stay Quiet Stay Alive

Favorite Character: Samira

Quote: “It’s good to have been back.”- Samira

Fun Fact: Frodo the cat was actually played by two cats.

The Review: What do we know about the ‘Death Angels’ from the last two Quiet Place movies? Well for one thing, they are armored alien monsters that is equipped with tough armor and has unusually extreme strength that could kill anybody who makes even one teeny tiny noise, even the fact that someone dropping a pin five miles away isn’t safe.

We may have known that those aliens are blind but they don’t need to see as long as they have unbelievably super powerful hearing. We also noticed that they don’t even have a spaceship (that would be pretty expensive), instead they hitch a ride on a bunch meteors

Once again, we enter John Krasinski’s world of the Death Angel invasion except, he is sitting out of the director’s chair for this one. Don’t worry, Krasinski is credited for story writing and he has a family movie out called IF.

I do believe it’s quite fitting for a prequel that’s taking a standalone direction to have a Michael Sarnoski (Pig) bring us his visions. Especially if its in a different setting. I mean throughout two movies, Krasinski brought us to a farm, the woods and on the island. But there is still a place we still have to explore, like New York City that is always noisy and chaotic and that is what this movie took us to.

At first, it starts like any other movie, characters chatting with different sounds added all over the place. I am very thrilled to say that the talented Oscar winning Lupita Nyong’O gives this years most powerful performance (so far) as Samira, a anxious terminally ill patient who seems to rather spent the rest of her time alone. Okay not exactly alone, she is accompanied by a cat named Frodo that is both a therapy cat and the film’s true star. I bet Cat lovers would watch the film anxiously, because we all know that if Frodo gives out one meow, game over.

Before the meteors strike, Sam, her caretaker (Alex Wolff) and Frodo went on a little field trip to the Big Apple just to see…a puppet show, not realizing that this may actually be her final destination. Literally. Comets slams the streets turning the whole screen white giving the audience a simulation of light blindness. We may not have seen what’s been going on for the first few minutes after the impact, but we defiantly get the idea what we are encountering.

Once she woke up, there are only a handful of survivors left in the city including Djimon Hounsou reprising his role from the previous film, and a random stranger (Joseph Quinn), who Sam would later develop a sweet friendship and take up most of the screen time with him. There are thankfully still helicopters right now, going around telling citizens to stay quiet at all times. After all, it’s not called The Quiet Place for no reason.

If that wasn’t stressful enough, all the bridges to NYC was blown up, leaving all the survivors stranded with monsters. There is only one way they can get out and that is by boats since we know that Death Angels are lousy swimmers. But that is easier said than done.

Regardless of the horrifying situation, Sam discovered some of the glimmering lights along the journey mostly involving her newly friendship with Eric. Her goal on the other hand was kinda questionable. I mean, in the apocalyptic world, Sam’s is worried about not getting pizza from Patsy’s? a sweet moment that may evolve into a relationship. Whatever, her and Eric together in scenes was a sweet moment.

Fans may actually be disappointed there aren’t any info from the Death Angels. I mean, do we really need them? Maybe they should stay mysterious. And for jumpscares, to those who do not like to be startled by them, there may only be one but it doesn’t mean you are safe from it. It is huge, so beware!

Day One can be scary and intense sure, but there is more than that. Saronski’s main purpose for this was to deliver a meaningful message about the acceptance of mortality. Still you may or may not chew your popcorn quietly.