A Quiet Place: A Day Director Michael Sarnoski Explains How He Tried To Avoid Stereotypes In Alien Invasion Movies
Lupita Nyong’o stars in A Quiet Place: One Day, a story full of tension and originality. The film’s invasion scene is notable for its unique setting, which focuses on the aliens’ abilities. Director Michael Sarnoski explains how the visuals are the second most important element of the film.
Beyond the alien invasion clichés
A Quiet Place 2 showed us the exact moment aliens took over Earth, but that scene paled in comparison to the invasion presented in A Quiet Place: Day One. The film’s trailer pulls no punches, showing plenty of monsters in New York. The “one day” scenes have become staples of alien invasion movies such as Independence Day, War of the Worlds, Edge of Tomorrow, and Battleship. Even Cloverfield used this device by focusing on believable main characters. In an interview with Directed for A Quiet Place: One Day, director Michael Sarnoski explained how he took this approach to the narrative.
Sarnoski’s Safe Place: Day One focuses on the main character, Sam, played by Lupita Nyong’o. “I was focused on Sam, her story, how she was going through this, and how I could show it so that we felt like we were there with her,” she explains. “And that was my key; ‘I always come back to the characters.'” Nyong’o’s character shows bravery throughout the film, as she is forced to survive the invasion in the face of the growing alien threat. It provides a source of motivation.
Avoiding alien invasion movie clichés
Sarnoski acknowledged the influence of the alien invasion films on A Quiet Place: Day One, but decided to minimize this influence to focus on the characters’ stories. “…studying those movies in part and trying to forget them as much as possible so I can focus on these characters and this worldview,” he explained. “If people are constantly trying to respond to what they’ve seen before and what they expect, I think it feels somewhat derivative.” The film’s strong performance at the box office has shown that it resonates with the general audience. Sarnoski even hinted that a sequel is confirmed for development.
A Quiet Place: Someday is a standalone prequel, but still tied to the 2020 film.Jimon Hounsou’s character appears in both films, showing how his arc goes from simple survivor to leader of the colony. A Quiet Place writer John Krasinski commented that Day One is set to offer something new to the franchise, maintaining continuity with a consistent narrative and recurring characters.
Behavioral approach
A Quiet Place: The First Day differs from other alien invasion films in its focus on its characters and their stories. Rather than focusing on the scene of the invasion, Sarnoski chooses to explore the personal experiences of the characters. This perspective provides a deep emotional connection with the audience, making them feel like they are experiencing the invasion alongside the characters.
In addition, the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as the main character gives a powerful and emotional performance that revolves around the story. His character, Sam, deals not only with the alien invasion, but also with the personal problems it brings. The presence of her feline companion adds an extra layer of humanity and vulnerability, allowing viewers to relate more to her struggles.
The future of the franchise
A Quiet Space: The First Day’s success lies not only in its ability to eschew genre clichés, but also in its ability to significantly expand A Quiet Space. With the promise of a sequel, fans can expect stories that delve deeper into their favorite characters and worlds.
A Quiet Place: Someday is now in theaters, offering an exciting new take on the alien invasion genre that focuses on the human experience and the personal stories that really matter.