A Quiet Place: Day One

It could have been a cheap cash-in that killed the mystery of the creepy sound-seeking monsters, but this prequel is instead a surprisingly riveting, intricately designed, even touching adventure. Directed by Michael Sarnoski as a follow-up to his excellent debut feature Pig, A Quiet Place: Day One begins by offering the factoid that New York City regularly generates 90 decibels of noise, the equivalent of a human scream. The movie then proceeds to use sound in a most intriguing way (as did the previous two Quiet Place movies). In one scene, the characters find themselves under a scaffolding in a rainstorm; the hammering sound of water on metal gives them enough cover to be able to whisper and introduce themselves. And a use of music in a later scene provides an emotional jolt that will be hard to forget.

In truth, the whole concept inspires the filmmakers to find ways to tell the story visually, without relying on talking; viewers are invited into the tale, rather than being told what to think. New characters Sam and Eric are surprisingly sympathetic and endearing: Sam is hard-headed and tragic, and Eric is tender and lost, like a puppy dog. He demonstrates several acts of bravery to show his loyalty. The supporting character of Henri (Djimon Hounsou), who becomes a major player in A Quiet Place Part II, is introduced here in a respectful and unobtrusive way. But best of all is that A Quiet Place: Day One didn't use its prequel position to explain the monsters' origin. Their real power lies in their mystery, and the movie keeps that intact, making this a worthy addition to a strong, scary series.