MAKE A SOUND, or be hunted.
That is usually the narrative found in the horror franchise, 'A Quiet Place,' as humanity struggles to deal with an alien life force blessed with an acute sense of hearing.
So far the franchise has been critically acclaimed, with the two films garnering positive reviews from critics.
Given the overall consistency, will the latest installment, 'A Quiet Place: Day One,' carry on with the series' prestige? Or will things start crashing down?
WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD
A different take on a post-apocalyptic world
Post-apocalyptic films have always revolved around one constant element: The need to survive, where the characters would gather resources, to protect their loved ones against the harsh environment.
A Quiet Place: Day One, follows the same formula however there's a unique touch.
The film's main protagonist aka Sam (portrayed by Lupita Nyong'o), wasn't motivated to survive, in fact her primary motivation could bring out a lot of chuckles.
'I want pizza!' she said.
It may seem absurd to think about pizza when the world is about to end, but there is a deeper meaning that will slowly uncover as the film progresses.
Sam is a terminally ill cancer patient, which explains her pessimistic nature and eventually we discover more about her backstory, which in turn will reveal the reasons as to why pizza is life.
This ultimately makes Sam a unique character in the film as she tends to stray away from society's usual instincts, which was evident in one scene where she would walk in the opposite direction of the crowd seeking for refuge in the harbor.
As she would try to ignore society's call, she would chance around an English law student named Eric (portrayed by Joseph Quinn) and their interactions would soon change her life.
A heartwarming narrative
The dynamic between Sam and Eric would ultimately cause a shift in the franchise. If before, A Quiet Place would focus more on its horror elements, the latest version is more of an emotional narrative, with the character's being more alien to each other compared to the family-centered nature of previous installments.
Sam starts off as someone who would rather isolate herself with the everyone else and she even tried to look for ways to let Eric fade away to obscurity.
Unfortunately for her, Eric is simply glued to her which in turn became a blessing for Sam.
As she tries to chase for her pizza party dreams, Sam realized the importance of having someone like Eric into her life.
But it wasn't just about Eric who made an impact in Sam's life as her pet cat Frodo has been there from the beginning. Frodo's bond with Sam would serve a deeper purpose that would further enhance Eric's role in the film.
And going beyond Frodo's purpose, the way he was trained was extremely impressive. Given the setting, it would make sense for Frodo to be panicky, but in the film the cat remained calm and composed despite the apocalyptic situation.
CONCLUSION
Overall A Quiet Place: Day One offers a fresh take on the series with its new cast of characters and its overall atmosphere.
While it may not have the same level of intensity compared to the previous films due to its emphasis on human interactions and emotions, the shift is actually the right move for the franchise as the film doesn't suffer from the repetitive formulas that have plagued horror film sequels.
However it didn't completely stray away from its formula as the film still manages to maintain its signature scares, while giving us a strong level of emotional depth courtesy of Nyong'o and Quinn.
And if you like cats, you'll surely enjoy this film as there is more emphasis on Frodo being an important element in this film, a good way to maximize the Lord of the Rings reference.
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