Un lugar tranquilo: Día 1

I just got out of A Quiet Place: Day One

It wasn't what I was expecting, based on the trailers, I was looking forward to seeing the carnage of Day One and everyone figuring out, silence is golden and that they need to be quiet. I didn't like that almost everyone learned to be quiet, off screen. So it was nothing we have not seen before. Characters trying to get from A to B (the point B, being stupid), whilst trying to be quiet.

Keeping it spoiler free, the movie starts off with a huge reveal (not in the ad camping) regarding a main character, that robs the movie of something.

Lupita Nyongo (brilliant, how does she not get more work?) and Stranger Things, Joseph Quinn (giving young Robert Downey Jr vibes) are both great and have good chemistry!! They share some nice, tender, human scenes (thought the script never makes it clear, why their characters connect so quickly and deeply) in what is a pretty sad and depressing movie. Not what was advertised, at all.

The CGI looks good and there are a few genuine jump scares.

This really doesn't seem like a franchise movie, it's much smaller in scale and scope (despite taking place in New York City, on the first day of an alien invasion) than the first two movies and that is a compliment, as it adds to the intimate and claustrophobic atmosphere, but from the trailers, his looked to be the biggest of them all.

I will say, that cat was way too quiet. It constantly took me out of the movie, how quiet it was being.

It sounds like I hated the movie, I didn't. It is a well made movie, with some fun action sequences that made me want to eat a margarita pizza. I just didn't love it, as much as I'd hoped and I think it's a missed opportunity.

Unexpectedly, quite dull.

'A Quiet Place: Day One' builds some tension well and features very good sound design, though the story and its characters are a disappointment. I have no issues with Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn, they try, but Sam and Eric are written quite boringly. I felt like we were missing some major character development for both.

The plot is rather underwhelming. There is some additional meaning in there admittedly, but it's literally one lame objective and then the standard styled exit. It felt whilst watching that the movie had barely any flesh on its bones. The cat stuff is cute, though the obvious lack of true jeopardy for Frodo even hampers that from hitting for real.

There is at least a pleasing use of Nina Simone's Feeling Good. Overall, however, this left me feeling extremely meh, unfortunately. I am, it is worth noting, someone who doesn't love the original two movies; though I did like the first flick just about enough.

As I read the reviews here I see quite a bit of negativity. Most of that seems to be based on the same droll complaint: "It isn't what I wanted it to be." People were looking for an explanation of why the aliens attacked, one guy mentioned wanting a tank battle (hey, go watch Transformers), others were upset that they didn't delve into the agenda of the aliens. Basically, these reviewers wanted an origin story... and were disappointed that's not what they got. While I can understand their complaint... they didn't write the story, make the movie, and weren't in charge of the plot line. If they had been, we'd have all missed what this movie really presented.

This is not an origin story, nor was it intended to be. It wasn't created to fulfill personal whims. They don't explain why the aliens invaded or their agenda BECAUSE THE CHARACTERS HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT. That's the bottom line of that issue. Maybe the next in the series will tell more about the aliens but frankly, that's not really necessary. All three of these movies have been about ordinary people dealing with the unknown as best they can. That's the premise, en total. The imagined origin of the aliens has never been the main point of these movies. The aliens appeared outta nowhere, attacked for unknown reason, are very dangerous but not invulnerable. People learn how to cope. That's it. The origin of the aliens is completely irrelevant to the plot of all three movies.

Every one of the negative reviews seem to be missing a very vital point in this movie: it is about a very ill woman dying of a disease (likely cancer) with evidently little time left... while at the same time dealing with a deadly alien invasion. This paradox is the entire crux of this movie, and is very important to the overall plot. Imagine yourself in this situation... facing death no matter what... and what would be the most important thing on your mind? Most of the reviews reveal this: pizza. Her "last wish" so to speak. Last wishes are something we all totally understand. This strong desire was established very early in the movie, and that remains the fulcrum throughout the film. The movie even explains the reason... and it's a very good one.

This isn't a deep probe into alien psyche. It's about two people who have just met, trying to deal with one very drastic day as best they can. They don't have time to plan. They aren't "die hard" samurai warriors. They're just regular people with their own problems: one has cancer and the other is evidently suffering from PTSD and doesn't know how to cope by himself. There's no telling what he'd already seen that day, what he'd had to deal with. So now... how are they going to cope with this situation?

This film catches the viewer's attention from the start and holds it to the very end. No, it's not the best movie ever... but it's very good and far above the jaded 1 & 2 star ratings we see here. The scene is set, the characters are presented, and the director proceeds to take us on two people's journey that single day... from the primary viewpoint of those two characters. They hold true to this premise throughout the film.

This is primarily action / adventure... but a step above as they reveal more about the characters themselves (which for once are very well developed and acted). Whether one "likes" how this resolves or not, the resolution is realistic and understandable. This is basically a slice-of-life sci-fi about the very first day of this alien invasion, no explanations other than "Here they are, now what do we do?". From that standpoint, it works.

The plot is non-existent. The characters are bland and they rely too much on the monsters to create tension. You become desensitized to the monsters quickly and maybe you will start feeling sleepy like I did. Come to think of it, the monsters kinda look a little goofy with their watermelon heads.

The action is formulaic and very derivative. Make some noise. Monster appears. Hide from monster. Maybe someone dies, maybe no one dies. Rinse and repeat. Combined with a simple plot and it is a snooze-fest.

I am a big fan of the first film and this one falls short of it in nearly every aspect. I would not recommend this film to fans of the series.

Although occasionally tugging at the old sentimental heartstrings, A Quiet Place: Day One offers zero answers about what happened during the initial invasion.

It's true, "hiding the monster" is essential in some cases, but we are now three movies in, know what they are, and we WANT to know more about them. But alas, nothing.

The two leads are solid but given very little in the way of action because there is little to go on. The earlier installments, especially the first, had a way of steadily ratcheting up the tension from beginning to end, keeping the characters in what felt like genuine danger at all times. Not here; the monsters are always off someplace in the distance, like watching a Lion at a zoo that barely sticks his head out of his cave to take a bite, then goes back in for a nap.

The fleeting moments when we see the monsters are technically impressive, showcasing the filmmakers' skills. However, it never feels like a danger to our two heroes or their cat. Maybe a little here and there?

This isn't a terrible movie, and It doesn't feel like a "cash grab" when watching it. However, when you make a prequel billed as 'What Happens on Day One' and it doesn't show it, with little tension, no new territory covered, or answers given, it's hard not to feel disappointed.

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September 2024 - Clearly the top three reviewers (I am currently in 4th) read my review first, even using my angles and terminology. Maybe they are A. I.? Who cares, except, they couldn't write a review without spoilers could they?