Released on June 28, 2024, A Quiet Place: Day One follows the initial days of the terrifying alien invasion that turns the world into a silent nightmare. Michael Sarnoski's film follows Lupita Nyong'o's Sam, a terminally ill cancer patient, as she deals with the chaos with her emotional support cat and an unexpected friend, Eric. The film follows them through Manhattan as they fight sound-hunting creatures.
A Quiet Place: Day One has various decisions made by the characters that are illogical and dangerous, despite its engaging plot. These errors reduce narrative tension and believability. Understanding these poor choices is crucial because they affect character survival and plot progression. Viewers can see how these choices affect the storyline, characters, and the film's ending.
Disclaimer: The article contains the author's opinions and spoilers from A Quiet Place: Day One.
A Quiet Place: Day One - Bad decisions made by the characters
Wasting time at Patsy's
The first major mistake occurs when Sam and Eric arrive at Patsy’s, only to find it destroyed. Instead of immediately seeking a safer location, they decide to visit a jazz club. This decision wastes valuable time and exposes them to unnecessary risks. The delay allows the creatures to catch up, forcing them into a series of frantic and poorly planned actions that jeopardize their safety.
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Drawing attention with noise
Sam creating noise to distract the creatures, allowing Eric to escape, is a major mistake. Self-sacrifice is noble but dangerous and fatal. Sam makes the creatures aware of her, causing a tragic and avoidable death. This choice illustrates the movie's theme of rash decisions without consideration.
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The yellow sweater sentimentality
Another critical mistake is when Sam gives Eric her yellow sweater before he leaves. This seemingly sentimental gesture is actually quite impractical. In a world where sound attracts deadly creatures, giving away clothing that could potentially make noise is highly dangerous. This decision emphasizes the characters' emotional state over their survival instincts, contributing to the escalating tension and danger they face.
Lack of communication and coordination
The final and most consequential mistake is the failure to communicate and coordinate effectively. Throughout A Quiet Place: Day One, characters often act independently rather than working together to strategize and plan their movements. This lack of coordination leads to missteps and missed opportunities to evade the creatures, ultimately resulting in unnecessary sacrifices and losses.
A Quiet Place: Day One is now available in theaters and is expected to be available on popular streaming platforms shortly. The film stars Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, and Alex Wolff and is directed by Michael Sarnoski. It follows Sam, a terminally ill patient, as she navigates the early days of an alien invasion. The movie has received positive reviews for its intense atmosphere and strong performances.
Read more: Does the cat in A Quiet Place: Day One survive till the end?
One of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes reads,
"A Quiet Place: Day One appropriately kept me in a frozen state, afraid to so much as crinkle a page in my notebook. It’s not a popcorn flick, though: Popcorn is too noisy. It’s more of a Raisinets movie."
Each poor decision made by the characters in A Quiet Place: Day One significantly affects the plot. Sam’s choice to distract the creatures leads to her untimely death, underscoring the high stakes and dangers of this new world.