John Krasinski’s 2018 film A Quiet Place introduced the horror genre to powerful aliens that brutally attack anything that makes sounds of any kind. Almost six years later, the film’s prequel unfolds fresh horrors as the aliens invade New York City. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, the film featuring Black Panther star Lupita Nyong’o and Stranger Things fame Joseph Quinn chronicles the first day of the alien invasion.
What happens in A Quiet Place: Day One?
Lupita Nyong’o’s Sam, a cancer patient living in a hospice, takes a day trip to Manhattan with her service cat Frodo. Her agenda is to grab some pizza before heading back. She is joined by the nurse, Alex Wolff’s Reuben and other residents. Their day takes a dark turn when the alien attack begins. The monsters, also known as death angels, go around killing terrified humans and causing mass destruction in the streets of New York City. Amidst the chaos, Sam is bent on grabbing pizza. On her way to Harlem, Joseph Quinn’s Eric, a British student in NYC for law school, joins Sam after Frodo leads him to her. They survive several near-death experiences before making an attempt to evacuate on ships that the government is urging the citizens to get on since the aliens can’t swim.
What happens during the ending of A Quiet Place: Day One?
Through the course of the film, we find out that Sam wants to go to Harlem for a very specific reason (although if it was just about pizza, we’d understand). She has roots in the area and wants to visit the places she frequented as a child, like a jazz club where her late father played the piano and Patsy’s Pizza where they’d eat after his performances. Sam wants to relive these memories instead of evacuating like the rest of the population given that she has little time left to live. Eric helps get her there. He also finds an alternate pizzeria when they find that Patsy’s has been vandalised by the aliens. In a heartfelt moment, he writes “Patsy’s” on the box as the two share some slices over drinks.
When the time comes to leave, Sam exchanges her jacket for Eric’s coat and gives Frodo to him, silently letting him know that she will not be joining them given her illness. She then goes on to set off several car alarms to attract the aliens away from Eric as he makes a run for the dock where the ship is leaving. Eric and Frodo safely make it onboard. He also finds a sweet note in his jacket pocket in which Sam leaves instructions to care for Frodo. The last scene of the film sees Sam walking down an abandoned street with earphones attached to a portable speaker. With a liberated look on her face, she pulls out the earphones while listening to Feeling Good. Loud music blasts through the speakers and when the beat drops, an alien emerges in the back and the screen goes black.
A Quiet Place: Day One is currently in theatres.
