'A Quiet Place: Day One' is a suspenseful, emotional prequel

CEBU, Philippines — “A Quiet Place: Day One” opens with an intriguing trivia with no citation: New York City’s noise levels average around 90 decibels, roughly equivalent to a person’s scream.

Setting this prequel at the Big Apple, in stark contrast to the rural settings of the first two films, promises to deliver an even more suspenseful entry in the franchise. In a city that never sleeps, who can actually be quiet?

If you're expecting “Day One” to delve into the mythology of why the noise-detecting aliens, known as Death Angels, arrived on Earth, or how people discover that the alien monsters solely rely on hearing to hunt, you might be disappointed. Instead, the film offers a character-driven story that makes wise use of its 99-minute runtime.

Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o stars as Sam, a terminally ill patient living in a hospice with little motivation to live. She reluctantly joins a field trip to the city with her fellow patients, agreeing only because they promised to get pizza from a specific parlor, which becomes nearly impossible when the Death Angels arrive.

Despite the horrors she faced, Sam remains determined to get pizza from her favorite restaurant. The  film later on explains why that place holds deep sentimental value to her. Along the way, she and her service cat named Frodo encounter Eric, a British law student (played by Joseph Quinn of Stranger Things) with no home to return to.

The trio navigates the dangers of an empty, bleak New York City, avoiding any sudden noise that could attract the Death Angels and result in brutal deaths.

When the first film debuted in 2018, its concept was so refreshing that its scares felt fresh. Now with audiences familiar with the story, it has lost some of its spark which made the jump scares weak as a result, failing to catch the audience offguard as much.

However, the film maintains the franchise’s signature suspense through well-executed character development, making the audience root for the protagonists' survival until the very end.

While it may look effortless, it’s not easy to act as a character who is monotonous and appears nonchalant, which Nyong'o excels in. Her performance is complemented by Quinn's friendly demeanor, as they develop a platonic and wholesome friendship in a post-apocalyptic world.

The audience's patience might be tested at times, particularly when Frodo wanders into dangerous areas that place the characters in peril. Some who are cat lovers may forgive these moments, while others might find these frustrating.

As the story unfolds, it becomes emotionally charged, especially near the end. Some viewers might find themselves teary-eyed at the film’s satisfying conclusion.

Michael Sarnoski’s script, coupled with his direction, reminds viewers why “A Quiet Place” became a hit in the first place. The concept of staying silent to avoid being killed is intriguing, but it’s the characters' struggle to retain their humanity amidst horror that makes the franchise compelling and worthy to watch again.

Though the jump scares may not be as strong in “A Quiet Place: Day One,” the film’s storytelling, suspense, and strong cast performances make it worth watching in cinemas. Four stars out of five.