As co-written and directed by John Krasinski, and starring his wife Emily Blunt; the first two A Quiet Place films were successful blendings of high suspense and tension, with a physical, visceral alien monster that genuinely terrified. So there was a lot of curiosity and anticipation when it was announced that a prequel would be the third film of the franchise, and that Krasinski and Michael Sarnoski were behind the story, and Sarnoski coming up with the screenplay. 

Busy directing his foray into cuddly family films via IF (Imaginary Friend), Krasinski cited scheduling conflicts as his reason for relieving himself of directing this A Quiet Place - Day One. Sarnoski had earned plaudits for his terse directing of the indie film Pig, which starred Nicholas Cage; so after initial talks with other chosen directors fell through, Sarnoski picked up the baton, and has directing credits for this third installment. 

As the title suggests, it’s Day One of the invasion by the alien species, and the film opens with us being introduced to Samira (Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o), who lives in a hospice for cancer victims, located outside New York City. There, her best friend would be her pet cat, Frodo; and she gets along well enough with male nurse Reuben (Alex Wolff). A visit to the City, and a promise that they’ll get pizza at Patsy’s in Harlem, is enough to rouse Sam from her torpor, and she joins the excursion. And we all know this is the excursion that will never return to the hospice. 

They arrive in Chinatown, watch a marionette show, and Sam encounters the family of Henri (Djimon Hounsou), who had appeared in the 2nd Quiet Place film. Here, he’s just a passing acquaintance, but does interact with Sam. The other major character year introduced in this Day One would be Eric (Joseph Quinn), one of those token survivors when the aliens first attack, but forges a touching and emotional bond with Sam, and with Frodo. In fact, it’s really Frodo who brings the two together. 

There’s a quest undertaken by the two to still find a way to get Sam her Patsy’s pizza, and it’s a running joke that provides some light, comic relief, in all the tension and terror. And New York is given an opportunity to shine and be a city with a lot of character, with the subway tunnels, churches, and districts like Harlem leading the way.

Extreme close up’s are Sarnoski’s little plaything; and its used effectively, time and again, to bring us even closer to the action, than ever. It works in heightening the tension, and giving us more intimate perspectives on what the likes of Sam and Eric are experiencing. There’s even a moment when it’s used for the alien monster, so it’s the monster’s POV we’re sharing. It makes for one of the strark contrasts between how Sarnoski and Krasinski direct.

If Emily Blunt’s character was the center, heart and soul of the first two films, Lupita Nyong’o ably steps into her shoes to be the emotional fulcrum of this prequel. She’s steely determination, fragility, and flinty compassion rolled up in one person. She’s not your typical heroine, but flawed as she is, comes through when it’s needed. 

I’m now curious to find out where Krasinski will take this franchise on a fourth film, if there is one. And if focus can shift to the monsters and how they evolve. Look at the Planet of the Apes, and how we’re now cheering the apes, and not the humans.