REVIEW: A QUIET PLACE - DAY ONE

4/5

The City That Never Speaks 

99 Mins. Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff & Djimon Hounsou. Screenplay & Director: Michael Sarnoski. In: Theatres.

If John Krasinski wanted to give his kids sweet dreams instead of the nightmares of what was hiding under their beds if they made a sound, then he certainly did right by the creature comforts of his 'IF' family film last month...even if it did star the merc mouth of Ryan Reynolds. Still, the executive producer remains in whisper distance of the 'A Quiet Place' franchise like his old friend Michael Bay, whose trademark explosions surely couldn't be allowed on set. From the office, Jack Ryan's story takes us back to 'Day One' for the perfect prequel, when other cult franchises are making movie sequels set 500 years into the future. I'm looking in your direction, you damn dirty apes.

Here's the pre to another post-apocalyptic film, with the end of the world as we know it all around us. Fine...I'll go watch a movie to brighten my day. What do you mean, I can't crunch my popcorn? Michael Sarnoski's ('Pig'...that's his movie, not a description) scripted and directed 'A Quiet Place: Day One', set in the tote bag heart of I heart NY will remind you of 'I Am Legend', green lit for its own sequel. And not because '12 Years Of A Slave', 'Us' and 'Star Wars' star Lupita Nyong'o, was in slapping distance earshot of Will Smith when he gave Chris Rock a hand at the Oscars that was anything but helpful...for anyone. Jets blowing up the Brooklyn Bridge and making the Manhattan transit as terrible as it is on weekends, that's straight out of the 'Legend' play book. As is fiending for a slice of pizza like Smith was saving that bacon.

The way the creatures in this feature move will have you thinking of the zombies that got their cardio in for 'World War Z', scaring you Brad Pitt-less. They themselves look like 'Stranger Things' we've seen before. Which is fitting as this first day keeping quiet co-stars the rock God himself, Joseph Quinn. What's crazier than that is that we never realized how much this future Johnny Storm, Human Torch of Marvel's 'Fantastic Four' looked like a young Robert Downey Jr. until he submerged from the Subway for his first scene here. Creating compelling chemistry with his co, the charming Quinn captures your heart. But the soul of this story is Nyong'o and just how far she'll go for this new day like Nina. The 'Black Panther' and 'The Jungle Book' star holds you with her subtle star power, without so much as a word.

Horror hallmark 'Hereditary' star Alex Wolff's kindly presence evokes even more emotion, before these blind ET's blow this house down instead of phone it from a booth, in this film that is so New York it premiered at the Tribeca. Yet it's 'A Quiet Place: Part II' star Djimon Hounsou in reprise, hand over mouth, that really links the DNA of this franchise and spin-off strands of story together. The inspired and intense actor of 'Gladiator' and 'Guardians Of The Galaxy', 'Blood Diamond' and 'Rebel Moon' offers a brutal look at the origins of his own character backstory. But let's not forget the cat, that purrs next to the fondest felines of films. The bond between actor and cat is beautiful, and get this, Lupita had a fear of cats before the film and some therapy, asking for a different animal. But just look at them now, like a Paul Rudd Hot Ones meme. From a mesmerizing marionette show, to a moving magic one, this 'Quite Place' can do it all. Speaking more subtle volumes that are still profound, even if you can't read lips. It's just that unspoken thing. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'A Quiet Place', 'I Am Legend', 'Stranger Things'.