Jakarta. The popular post-apocalyptic horror “A Quiet Place” franchise has just released its third film, although the freshly launched spin-off prequel might not be as memorable as the first two movies. Still, “A Quiet Place: Day One” managed to keep me on my toes just like the earlier works. 

Directed by Michael Sarnoski, “A Quiet Place: Day One” moves away from our beloved Abbott family, and follows the story of cancer patient Sam (Lupita Nyong’o). The aliens have just invaded Earth. The only way to survive is to not make a sound, and we see Sam --alongside other characters -- tip-toeing around New York City. Sam, however, is not alone in her journey, as she takes her cat wherever she goes. Amidst the chaos, the only thing that is on Sam’s mind is to grab some pizza on the other side of the city. Sam then encounters Eric (Joseph Quinn), and together they navigate the post-apocalyptic world.

The franchise’s charm lies in, among others, how it is able to keep the audience in suspense. And just like the past two films, “A Quiet Place: Day One” did just that. I find the original idea of having to stay silent to survive an alien attack quite refreshing, and it is something that does not get old. Whenever something broke on screen or the characters made a sound, I -- and the other cinema-goers -- immediately went into full panic mode.

I initially had doubts about the Sam-Eric duo and wondered whether they would be able to make the audience emotionally connect with the pair. The introduction felt rushed so I was skeptical. But then the apartment scene proved me wrong and showed that they indeed had solid chemistry. The way they screamed their hearts out while timing it in a way that the thunder outside would mute their screams. Not to mention the heartwarming magic show that Eric pulled in the later half of the movie. These heartwarming scenes gave a nice touch to the characters and the overall story. 

But a franchise’s biggest challenge is to convince its viewers that its latest work could be better or be on par with the original. 

The past two films have moments that I still think about to this day. For instance, the original had Lee (John Krasinski) telling his daughter that he had always loved her in sign language before sacrificing himself. It also had the intense birthing scene by mom Evelyn (Emily Blunt). “A Quiet Place: Part 2” had the radio station scene in which the Abbott kids Regan (Millicent Simonds) and Marcus (Noah Jupe)  take down the alien.

While “A Quiet Place: Day One” is a fun film, it is missing the memorable bits. Scenes that are still on your mind even after years have passed.

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