A Quiet Place Day One struggles with some character substance at times, but nevertheless hooks you on the journey immediately after an alien invasion. With a great presentation from Paramount, this is available on 10/8 on 4k UHD and Blu-ray.
“Experience the day the world went quiet in “one of the best films of the year.” When Samira (Lupita Nyong’o) returns home to New York City, her simple trip turns into a harrowing nightmare when mysterious creatures that hunt by sound attack. Accompanied by her cat Frodo and an unexpected ally (Joseph Quinn), Samira must embark on a perilous journey through the city that has suddenly gone silent, where the only rule is to stay quiet to stay alive. Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolff also star in this intense thriller featuring “visceral scares and epic action scenes.”
The previous A Quiet Place films were fresh takes on one of my favorite mixing of the genres: science fiction and horror. Immediately I, like I’m sure many others, was drawn in to this horrifying new reality of creatures that hunt by sound, so deadly that the most miniscule amount will trigger vicious and deadly attacks, leaving an entire world fallen silent. One of the brilliant aspects of these films was the fact that we get no explanation, no long drawn-out exhibition of typical character introductions and the trigger of the invasions to show the world before and after. We’re in that world now, and have been for quite a while. While the questions of these creatures burned in the back of my mind, I was satisfied with the mystery that kept the films open to interpretation, so when a prequel was announced I initially had reservations.
A Quiet Place: Day One does nothing to tarnish any of the enjoyment of the previous films by giving drawn out expositions and sequences cutting across the globe. We’re introduced to Samira, who is dealing with her own existential crisis nearing the end of a painful illness. Around her are people who look upon her with pity, as something fragile, as she confronts her mortality on a daily basis. Suddenly after the world changes and the creatures take over the city, everybody else now must share that same feeling. It’s an interesting shift in tone gives Samira an advantage over those fearful for their lives, as she truly has nothing to lose walking through the streets of New York City.
The original films followed a family that was able to use sign language to communicate, and thus, giving the audience a way to understand and learn backstory and substance about these characters. Probably the most difficult thing about this film is not having that ability. We’re only given a small amount of time with Samira before the invasion, and no time with one of the other main characters, Eric (Joseph Quinn). We’re left to our own conclusions about a large majority of his backstory save for a few minor things he whispers to Samira under the cover of rainfall. His introduction to the audience as he bursts out of a flooded subway gasping for breath gives us an insight to some of his fears he experiences further on in the film, but nothing on what happened to him beforehand and anyone or anything he may have lost. Even though I couldn’t have told you the names of these characters because the lack of dialogue in the film, I still felt an indelible connection to them and was invested in their journey.
Lupita Nyong’o does a fantastic job in the film, shouldering an enormous emotional journey. Her ability to convey a wealth of knowledge without dialogue is impressive to say the least. Eric Johnson played perhaps one of the more memorable characters on Stranger Things and his breakout popularity I feel should have garnered more attention than he’s gotten so far. He’s exceptional in this film. Absolutely nothing like Eddie Munson, you really get to see his true range. Now, as much as I love cats, and usually enjoy them playing large roles in films, it can honestly feel like a crutch to lean on relying on the emotional investment from the audience toward this helpless and cute animal. I found myself being taken out of the film at times because I was worried what happened to the cat, where it was when the characters went underwater, where it is in a particular harrowing scene. I love it, but it’s distracting, and you miss some more important moments.
Video
A Quiet Place Day One is presented in 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen featuring HDR10 and Dolby Vision. This transfer is exceptional. Bright and vivid colors in every sequence, with the dynamic meta-data ensuring each scene looks the best it can. Particularly impressive are the action sequences that highlight a lot of clear visuals and life-like colors.
Audio
The disc features a Dolby Atmos track, truly one of the best aspects of the disc. For a film that is premised on silence, there certainly is a lot lacking in that department. The action sequences in particular are quite impressive, including great use of the surrounds during these moments that will immerse you in the action on-screen. When there is dialogue, it’s clear and concise, with the atmospheric effects keeping you on your toes when an off-screen event forces you to turn your head.
Special Features
We were given the 4k Steelbook edition to review. An important note for those interested: the standard 4k edition contains the 4k version and Digital Code only. The Steelbook edition contains those, as well as a Blu-ray copy of the film. Considering the beautiful Steelbook editions released for the other two films, fans that enjoy consistency will find this pairs nicely with those.
As far as extras, you’ll see:
- Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Day Zero: Beginnings and Endings
- In the City: Chaos in Chinatown
- The Exodus: Against the Tide
- The Long Walk: Monsters in Midtown
- Pizza at the End of the World
A Quiet Place Day One provides the perfect balance between the feel of the original films while exploring new themes and stories. It isn’t overly descriptive of the nature of the creatures, something I have felt is the right call from the very beginning. I feel as though this franchise has more to offer, and if this film is any indication about the direction it is heading, I’d say we’re in good hands. This one has been out on Paramount+ for a while now, but comes out physically on 10/8, and with how great this set looks and sounds, this is the way to see it.