Longlegs

Longlegs is a 2024 horror thriller film written and directed by Osgood Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Gretel & Hansel).

Lee Harker, a talented new FBI agent, has been assigned to an unsolved case of a serial killer. As the investigation becomes more complicated with occult evidence uncovered, Harker realizes a personal link to the ruthless killer and must act quickly to prevent another family murder.

The cast includes Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, and Blair Underwood.

Longlegs made its debut in theaters July 12th, courtesy of Neon.

First and foremost, lets take a moment to applaud this historic run Neon has been on as of late with films like Pig, The Lodge, Parasite, It Lives Inside, Infinity Pool, and Anatomy of a Fall, just to name a few. Bottom line, they are out here giving A24 a run for their money and that is no easy feat. When Longlegs was first announced I was immediately intrigued, but when the first teaser trailer dropped all I could say was holy fucking shit. I mean honestly, a part of me thought this movie was made just for me.

I was already fairly familiar with director Osgood Perkins after his incredibly underrated horror film The Blackcoat’s Daughter (our full review here), which is a fantastic slow-burn that hits hard. Now here he is back with this movie that was seriously giving me vibes of the ultimate cult classic serial killer film Se7en, and the icing on the cake is that he has my guy Nicolas Cage playing the serial killer. Again, is it Christmas or my birthday because I am feeling pretty damn special. Now with the through the roof expectations out of the way, was Longlegs able to deliver?! Keep reading to find out!

I’m not going to beat around the bush like an asshole, this movie was absolutely fantastic and messed up in all the best ways. Not only did it meet my expectations but dare I say it exceeded them. Now after watching trailers we go into these movies with certain preconceived notions about what the movie is going to be like, and when expectations are high things tend to get extra messy for obvious reasons. But to be honest, I had so much faith in Osgood Perkins as a director in terms of his original style and knack for keeping you guessing right until the very end that I just knew I was in for a treat, and boy did he deliver.

Now as per usual this review will be spoiler-free, but Longlegs is a wild ride. Right from the start viewers are given a taste of the unique and very indie style of filmmaking that Perkins tends to gravitate to, and in my opinion his style makes for a much more intimate viewer experience. It just looks so good. This film is just loaded with everything fanatics like myself are begging for; incredible cinematography, a chilling score, a wildly unsettling and original screenplay, and performances that will literally blow your mind. Bottom line, Longlegs is that movie and Osgood Perkins is that dude. Soooooo good.

I have to start with the story for Longlegs because I feel like in many ways that is the beating heart of the film. I mean, do you even have these incredible performances without a story that fuels them? Probably not. Now Osgood Perkins has proven himself as a director, but his real greatness starts with his ability to craft a story that will equally intrigue and terrify viewers, a very unique and effective balance for sure. His films tend to keep you on edge from start to finish, but my favorite thing about his screenplays are the holy shit moments at the end. The gratifying full circle feeling when it all comes together in the grand finale and has you damn near standing up to clap. Perkins is just on another level as a storyteller.

I was honestly all over the place during the entire film trying to piece it all together to get an idea of where things were headed, but I was not prepared. Not even close. Now Perkins is the master of making it obvious that something is just not right from the start in terms of the characters and the overall feel, and this keeps viewers on the edge-of-their seats for pretty much the entire film. Everything about Longlegs is just so wild and unpredictable that eventually you give up trying to figure it out and just wait to see where the dominos fall, and trust me I mean that in a good way. Not single shot is wasted and the story just has so many layers to it. I am sure that I will pick up on things I missed with a second and third viewing. Perkins very clearly takes pride in keeping things an absolute mystery right until the final act, and as long as he keeps making movies I will be there opening night.

As far as the performances are concerned, I have three words for you, Nicolas FUCKING Cage. I feel like I am swearing a lot but trust me when I say it is warranted. Cage is seriously otherworldly as the serial killer known only as Longlegs. We are introduced to him right away but he is unrecognizable to the point where I wasn’t sure if it was him at first. Everything about him will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up straight and that is a big reason why this movie works so well. I do wish we got to see more of him, but how he was utilized did make sense in terms of the story and the overall mystery surrounding the killings.

Getting the majority of the screen time was actress Maika Monroe as FBI agent Lee Harker. I would argue that Monroe is underrated as an actress, but she definitely helped change the game as far as the horror genre with the start of the “elevated horror” subgenre when she starred in the 2014 horror film It Follows. Monroe is great here as this socially awkward but very talented agent who very clearly has a few demons of her own. She truly became this character which helped to build the suspense for the film. I hope she continues to get more opportunities because she always seems to deliver especially when it comes to the horror genre.

Alicia Witt, a veteran actress who has been in a little bit of everything dating back almost 40 years, takes on a prominent supporting role as Lee’s mother Ruth. Monroe and Witt have fantastic chemistry and I was honestly lowkey blown away by Witt’s performance especially during the films third act. Actor Blair Underwood plays the higher ranking detective that Lee teams up with to try and track down Longlegs. I thought his character was great as it offered a nice balance between your typical straight-laced detective and Harker who was a bit more unorthodox in her methods. In general you really couldn’t have asked for a better cast especially for a horror movie.

Now I talked about Osgood Perkins and his skills as a storyteller, but the man knows his way around a camera let me just say that. Perkins has a very intimate style where many of his shots are up close, over the shoulder, or he will have a character offset making viewers question whether or not something is going to happen in the background. I love his style and as I mentioned earlier in the review it really helps make for such a unique and intimate viewing experience.

For Longlegs Perkins teamed up with cinematographer Andres Arochi, his first feature film, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. Throughout the film the cinematography is incredible as it helps to build this world of absolute dread and despair. I would dare to say that Perkins and Arochi will work together again in the future. Also a huge shoutout to the editing team and make-up department for what they contributed to the film. Also the original score put together by composer Zilgi is nightmare fuel as it takes viewers into the underbelly of pure evil.

THE VERDICT

A wildly unsettling horror thriller that gets under your skin thanks to a masterful original story and a chilling performance from Nicolas Cage, Longlegs is truly a genre-defining film solidifying Osgood Perkins as a supremely talented filmmaker. The marketing alone for this film blew me away, and the fact that the final product delivered is damn impressive in itself.

Now I don’t expect everyone to fall in love with Longlegs, mainly because even though it seems to draw inspiration from classic films like Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs, it definitely falls more in the elevated horror subgenre which to me means some people just won’t truly appreciate how incredible it is. At the end of the day filmmaking is an art form, and what Osgood Perkins delivers here is a work of pure art for film fanatics like myself with a true appreciation for the horror genre. This movie really is that good, and I simply cannot wait to see it again.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.4/10

Longlegs is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

MaXXXine

MaXXXine is a 2024 crime thriller horror film written and directed by Ti West. The film is the 3rd in the trilogy and the sequel to X (our full review here), as it follows Mia goth’s character after the events of that film.

In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. However, as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Los Angeles, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

The cast includes Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon.

MaXXXine made its debut in theaters July 5th, courtesy of A24.

When the first trailer for X released back in late 2021 I remember thinking to myself who is this TI West guy and why does it seem like he made this movie just for me. Like seriously, I am a horror fanatic but I also grew up obsessed with the slasher genre so this film checked all the boxes for me. I had such a unique experience in the theater with this film as I was absolutely immersed from start to finish, it really was that good. I left the theater smiling ear to ear and thinking I cannot wait to see that again, but I had no idea this was the beginning of a highly successful film trilogy.

News broke fairly early on that a prequel film was not only already in the works, but was actually being worked on during the filming for X. Given the title Pearl (our full review here), writer/director Ti West envisioned building on the intriguing backstory of one of the films terrifying antagonists, while also teaming up again with star Mia Goth who played two roles in X, Maxine and Pearl. Well let me just say that as film lovers we are very lucky that West is such an ambitious man because it was very clear early on that these films were not to be missed. So, did MaXXXine live up to the hype as the final film in this trilogy? Keep reading to find out!

First and foremost, MaXXXine was a fantastic film and I enjoyed every minute of it. The collaboration between Ti West and Mia Goth is really just on another level, and experiencing what these two are able to dream up artistically has been such a treat. With X you had much more of a horror slasher vibe, Pearl was more of a psychological horror that sort of had Alfred Hitchcock vibes, but MaXXXine was different as it was very much a noir style film that in many ways paid homage to some of the more defining years of the film industry.

I loved watching the development of Mia Goth’s character as she went from lone survivor of a horrific tragedy in X to a strong career-oriented woman who refused to let anyone, or anything, get in the way of her dreams. The film ties directly back to X and also goes even deeper into some of her earlier years which becomes a significant element of the story for MaXXXine.

The film has a unique feel and a very clear identity from the start, and I was absolutely obsessed with the gritty 80’s Hollywood feel. Plus the film had some great Easter eggs for fans of 80’s films, including Moses Sumney’s character reading a throwback issue of Fangoria magazine featuring articles on Friday the 13th and the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. You also get some great Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood vibes during the film which is always fine by me. Man Ti West is good.

The story also takes the extra time to really understand Maxine’s mental state as it ties back to the traumatic events of the first film. She is a badass without question so it is easy to view her as basically unbreakable, but during certain parts of the film we get to see that she is still dealing with some of that trauma. It is pretty clear from the start that she has this feeling that she can’t escape her past which is why she works so hard to distance herself from the person she once was. Seeing the vulnerabilities with her character added a much needed emotional element to the film which also left the door open if Ti West decides to keep this franchise going.

The cast was on fire in MaXXXine, starting with the main attraction Mia Goth. To be honest before X I didn’t even know her name, not after teaming up with Ti West I can’t get her out of my head. Goth is the entire package, she has the looks and the raw acting talent, all she needs is the right writer/director to work with and Ti West was a match made in heaven for her. This film trilogy has really allowed her to shine as the brightest star in all 3 films, and she absolutely crushed it as Maxine Minx. If you are intrigued by Goth she also plays a complete psychopath in Brandon Cronenberg’s unique sci-fi thriller/body horror film Infinity Pool (our full review here), now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

Starring alongside Goth is iconic actor Kevin Bacon, who has been around literally forever getting his start in National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), and the original Friday the 13th (1980). Bacon is just one of those actors that can do it all, and he was so good here as he took on the role of this super sleazy private investigator named John Labat with no moral compass whatsoever. Labat is a pretty confident guy but he learns pretty quickly that getting on a collision course with seemingly sweet but incredibly vengeful Maxine was a very bad idea. Bacon’s performance was a big reason why the film worked so well and I thought he had amazing chemistry with Goth.

Giancarlo Esposito, widely known as Gus Fring in the hit series Breaking Bad, takes on the role of Maxine’s agent/entertainment lawyer Teddy Night, Esq.. I loved this character right from the start as Esposito brought this great mix of confidence and tenacity to the role. His character quickly becomes one of Maxine’s biggest allies and it was so much fun watching the relationship develop. I mean seriously, what can’t this guy do? His character is incredibly charismatic and just brings a unique element to the dynamic of the film.

The cast is honestly pretty stacked to the point where you have Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, and Moses Sumney all in supporting roles. I thought they were all incredible in each of their respective roles, but more than anything the characters they played really felt true to the 80’s era of the film. Also a worthy shoutout to Halsey, Chloe Farnworth, Sophie Thatcher, and Simon Prast, all taking on strong supporting roles.

THE VERDICT

Dynamic filmmaker Ti West and the uber-talented Mia Goth dive head first into the noir genre of film while paying homage to vintage 80’s Hollywood, MaXXXine is top-tier cinema and a worthy final chapter in the X trilogy. While X remains my favorite film of the three, this without a doubt meets the standard when it comes to the high bar set by this franchise as it peers into the psyche of the Maxine character.

One of the greatest things about these films is the fact that they get even better each time you watch them which is a testament to West and his unique vision and incredible attention to detail. If you enjoyed the other films you absolutely need to check out MaXXXine in theaters as soon as possible.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.6/10

MaXXXine is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Horizon: An American Saga is a 2024 two-part American epic Western film co-written, produced, directed by, and starring Kevin Costner.

Families, friends and foes discover the lure of the Old West as the Civil War divides the country.

The cast includes Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Will Patton, Tatanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe, Ella Hunt, and Jamie Campbell Bower.

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 made its debut in theaters on June 28th, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

Kevin Costner is back on the big-screen in a huge way! Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is a massive film taking viewers back to one of the most defining moments in American history. The film sets the stage perfectly right from the start as it tugs on the heart strings and quickly gets viewers invested in the story as it begins to introduce several different characters across various locations.

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is clearly built around the story, and to say there is a lot of meat on the bone here would be a big understatement. The film clocks in at around 3-hours, but rest assured it flies by. The story hinges on the age old allure of the American Dream which promised a better life for people seeking land to make their own and raise a family. I really liked how the film made sure to offer perspective from all sides allowing viewers the opportunity to feel something for all involved.

The cast for Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 was pretty stacked for sure, but I will try and focus on the actors who stood out most to me. The film bounces around quite a bit as it introduces different characters but each segment tends to have at least one actor that stands out more than the others. For obvious reasons I have to start with the man himself, Kevin Costner, who I thought was fantastic in this.

Costner is introduced a bit later in the film which I was fine with, and more than anything I just liked his character a lot. He struck me as a man of principles who was willing to stick his neck out for what was right, and viewers will without a doubt appreciate what he brought to the film as an actor. I am looking forward to the trajectory of his character.

I’m not necessarily going in an particular order but next in line is lowkey a great actor in Sam Worthington, who previously starred in the Avatar films, as well as Everest and The Shack. Worthington takes on the role of Trent Gephart, a man trying desperately to stop more bloodshed without much success. I felt like he played a strong character and I am looking forward to where his moral compass leads him in Chapter 2. Actress Sienna Miller is absolutely gorgeous and irresistible in her role as Frances Kittredge. She is a big part of the initial events of the film and I loved how her character continued to make a significant impact throughout the remainder of the film.

I personally loved how Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 was able to show a unique perspective from all sides and actor Tatanka Means does an amazing job representing the Native American side. I loved him in Killers of the Flower Moon and he continued to absolutely crush it here. I was surprised at how intrigued I was by Luke Wilson in his role as Matthew Van Weyden. Weyden was in charge of leading a convoy of people to the new land in search of a better life. Wilson, widely known for his comedic roles including the all-time comedy classic Old School (2003), was just different here. I thought he really commanded this role well and I was pleased that he was given the opportunity. All things considered the entire supporting cast was great as well.

If you’re anything like me and one of the reasons you enjoy Yellowstone so much is because of the scenery, well Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is an absolute treat in much the same way. The film serves up some of the most incredible sights I have seen in film in quite some time as it gives viewers a look at just how incredibly beautiful this country once was. The film takes full advantage of wide shots and panoramic viewing angles making it clear that you need to experience everything it has to offer on the biggest screen possible.

I was constantly in awe of the scenic beauty which helped to keep me immersed in the film. Costner deserves a ton of credit for his work behind the camera because I don’t think a single shot was wasted. Talented cinematographer J. Michael Muro, who previously worked on Crash (2004) and the series Longmire, really makes his mark on this film. I also have to shout out composer John Debney for serving up what I felt was a flawless score as it really brought this film to life. Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 includes so many special moments that are able to reach another level thanks to the films score.

Now I’m not going to sit here and act like Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is a perfect film, but the majority of the criticisms are just ridiculous. Firstly people seem to be annoyed by the fact that the film lacks a true “ending”, yet it is very clearly advertised as Part 1 of 2, and from what I have read it may even expand from there. For the life of me I can’t wrap my brain around how you can watch a movie that is just the first part and be surprised at how it ends. And to be honest I thought the film wrapped things up much better than it really needed to in what I felt was an attempt to appease the people who still complained.

Throughout the film a ton of different characters are introduced so it can be a lot to take in that I will admit, but the end of the film includes a sort of montage which includes all of these characters setting the stage what will surely be an action packed and emotional Part 2. Because the film introduces so many different characters it can be hard to keep track of what is going on, but I’m not sure how that could have been avoided.

By the end I felt like I had a pretty good idea what was going on and I thought the editing team did a masterful job as the film jumped from different character perspectives. My suggestion is really simple, when you go see Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 allow it to immerse and entertain you without focusing too much on expectations knowing that more is coming with Part 2.

THE VERDICT

Kevin Costner’s massive Western epic features an all-star cast as it carefully crafts a powerful true story of a pivotal moment in American history, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 can be a lot to digest but still sets the stage perfectly for Chapter 2. I thought the film delivered on the promise of the old-school Western feel and it kept me entertained from start to finish. I’m genuinely excited for Chapter 2 in August, and looking forward to finding out whether or not Costner will keep this saga going. Be sure to see Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 in theaters.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.2/10

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Thelma

Thelma is a 2024 comedy film written and directed by Josh Margolin. The film, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024, is inspired by a real-life experience involving Margolin’s own grandmother.

When 93-year-old Thelma Post gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, she sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her.

The cast includes June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell.

Thelma made its debut in theaters June 21st, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

When I first heard about Thelma my first thought was 94-year-olf June Squibb was finally getting her chance to play the elderly version of John Wick and I was all in for that. I’m only half-kidding because the original teaser trailer included an explosion and Squibb putting the petal to the metal on a motorized scooter. I thought the film looked fun but expected something over-the-top and mostly goofy, and I was as surprised as anyone when the film was much different than I expected it to be.

Thelma was fantastic right from the opening scene, serving up a very grounded coming-of-age style comedy film with a great story and a terrific cast. I loved the character of Thelma, played by June Squibb, right from the beginning as I was completely wrapped up in her no BS nature and sense of confidence. The relationship she had with her grandson Daniel played by Fred Hechinger felt genuine as their on-screen chemistry yielded tons of laughs while also getting viewers in the feels. I could honestly watch these two together for hours. The story is of course primarily focused on Thelma and her undeniable determination to get back what was taken from her, but the side story is about her grandsons attempt to find his way in the world. Overall just two great characters that helped to bring the screenplay to life.

As far as the screenplay is concerned Thelma is a tale of revenge on the surface, but it really is so much more than that. Right away it is clear that although the comedic element is there, this is actually a much more serious movie compared to how it was marketed. As I touched on briefly in the intro Thelma is based on a true story and the film does feel much more realistic compared to the elderly Jon Wick some people may have been expecting. The film is more about our ability to be self-sufficient whether it be in our early 20’s or early 90’s. I loved the films message and felt like the identity of the film was intact throughout, and even though I laughed a ton the film resonated with me so much more than just a standard comedy would.

The film is absolutely packed with great one-liners especially from June Squibb, and each one had me laughing out loud. Everything just feels so natural and seamless for Squibb which seems to rub off on the rest of the cast. She is just amazing, simple as that. As I talked about briefly she had great chemistry with actor Fred Hechinger as her grandson Daniel, and I personally loved him in this film. Certainly not an actor you would consider to be a household name, but Hechinger has played his fair share of roles in TV and film, and may be most recognizable for his role in the first season of the hit HBO dark comedy drama series White Lotus.

He seems to really know his way around the aimless 20-something characters, but there is no denying his talent as an actor. Aside from Squibb’s Thelma, Hechinger is my favorite character in the film. I just loved how he was super sweet with his grandmother but was also struggling to find his way in the world. I really enjoyed Richard Roundtree’s role as well and he definitely contributed to quite a few laughs. Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell all played small roles but were equally great.

THE VERDICT

A heartwarming coming-of-age story about family and the struggle for independence, Thelma is engaging, hilarious, and genuinely moving, but more than anything else it reminds us that 94-year-old actress June Squibb is a national treasure. You will simply fall in love with Thelma and will likely find yourself wishing she was your grandmother, I know I did. Check this movie out in theaters, you’ll be glad you did.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.5/10

Thelma is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

A Quiet Place: Day One

A Quiet Place: Day One is a 2024 post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller film written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, based on an original story by John Krasinski and Sarnoski. It is intended to be a spin-off prequel, and the third overall installment of the A Quiet Place film series.

When New York City comes under attack from an alien invasion, a woman and other survivors try to find a way to safety. They soon learn that they must remain absolutely silent as the mysterious creatures are drawn to the slightest sound.

The cast includes Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, and Denis O'Hare.

A Quiet Place: Day One made its debut in theaters June 28th, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

I still vividly remember seeing the original A Quiet Place (our full review here) movie in theaters back in 2018, and wow what an experience that turned out to be. Now the premise of the films is unique obviously, but you don’t quite realize how unique until you’re sitting in a dark movie theater scared to chew your popcorn. Seriously, you could hear a pin drop in the theater and that in itself speaks volumes (pun intended) about this franchise and the original film in particular in terms of just how hard it hit viewers.

I was no joke anxious the entire film, and part of the genius of A Quiet Place was the fact that it felt so personal because viewers were experiencing the film through the eyes of this family as they attempted to survive this incredibly relentless threat. I genuinely cared for the family portrayed in the first film, and that part of it all proved to be an integral part of the success for this franchise.

Fast forward 6 years or so and here we are with A Quiet Place: Day One, ironically a film that came out years later but actually tells the origin story of the terrifying creatures wreaking havoc for the characters in this franchise. Now first a simple question, did we need a prequel film? My answer, an emphatic HELL YES!! Seriously, A Quiet Place: Day One is just so damn good on so many levels, whether it be as a standalone film or a film that improves the franchise as a whole. This really was THAT good, simple as that.

Now as I talked about the seemingly simple yet effective recipe for success as it relates to this franchise is focusing on just a few characters as they do whatever they can to survive this never-before-seen threat is alive and well here. A Quiet Place: Day One has it all, a heartfelt story, tense action, next-level visuals and technical elements including an amazing score and ridiculous camera work, which all come together to create one of the better sci-fi thrillers I have experienced in quite some time.

The story blew me away as it was so much more emotional than I expected it to be. It is no easy feat creating a prequel film with characters that have no connection to the characters in the other films, and the direction they decided to take with this screenplay was without a doubt the way to go. The films primary antagonist is incredibly sympathetic yet strong-willed and I felt connected to her immediately. The circumstances surrounding this character are unique in the sense that she is already navigating significant life challenges before she is thrust into an alien attack that threatens the future of mankind. The story resonated with me in a way that I did not expect as it stuck with me well after the end-credits.

I just loved everything A Quiet Place: Day One brought to the table, but the cast absolutely crushed it. Lupita Nyong'o is in a league of her own as always, playing the pivotal role of the films primary antagonist, Samira. Nyong'o is an incredibly talented actress, and one of her many strengths is the fact that her acting talents go well beyond the dialogue and that really shines here. She is so strong yet so sympathetic at the same time, and boy oh boy is that amazing final scene just seared into my brain for all of eternity. Give this woman all the roles because she really is that good.

My guy Djimon Hounsou plays a small role but he shows up and makes a big impact as he always does. He is just one of those actors that always exudes a certain level of pure confidence when he is on-screen. Alex Wolff, who has been killing it over the last several years with Hereditary, Jumanji: The Next Level, and Pig, was really good here as well.

To be honest I didn’t even recognize Wolff with his beard and long hair, but something about him felt familiar and comforting. His chemistry with Nyong’o was very important for the success of the film and he was a big part of that. Feline lovers are in for a treat as well thanks to a sweet and tough as nails emotional support cat that is along for the ride. Just brace yourself because the idea that cats have 9 lives is put to the test.

I need to talk about actor Joseph Quinn, someone who is fairly unknown at least to me. When he first showed up in the film I expected him to be more of a passerby type character but his role became pivotal to the film and I was genuinely impressed with his performance. Quinn plays Eric, a man that Samira comes across as she is making her way through the city.

She makes it clear to him she prefers to travel solo, but he is simply too terrified to be alone and follows her anyway. The bond that forms between Samira and Eric is nothing short of amazing, and their relationship is the beating heart of the films amazing story. A Quiet Place: Part One is an intense sci-fi thriller but it is also a story of courage, resilience, and the power of human connection.

On the technical side of things A Quiet Place: Day One is nothing short of incredible. I really liked the feel of the film right from the start as it felt more like a meaningful drama film than it did a sci-fi thriller just trying to set the stage for an alien attack. The film really just has so many layers that, by the end of it, make for much more of an emotional rollercoaster than I was expecting.

The story was great as I talked about already, but many of you want to hear about the alien threat that overtakes the city; rest assured because they are absolutely terrifying. The actual attack happens very fast so everything is a bit of a blur at first as Samira attempts to navigate her way to safety. She is knocked out briefly and wakes up with the realization that the enemy preys on sound and absolute silence is the only way to survive.

The creatures look incredible, and I loved how they moved with such ferocity throughout the city leaving disaster in their wake. I admit I was holding my breath during the majority of this movie as the tension was no joke. One thing that has helped set this franchise apart is the ability to be vast in terms of overall scale while still maintaining that intimate feel which is crucial for helping to make sure viewers genuinely care for the characters. Huge shoutout to the entire team working behind the scenes for delivering top-notch visuals, amazing sound, excellent cinematography, and just the overall production value you expect from a big-budget film.

THE VERDICT

An edge-of-your-seat sci-fi thriller featuring terrific performances and a raw and heartfelt story, A Quiet Place: Day One is a unique experience and the rare prequel that puts the franchise on another level. I simply loved this movie from start to finish, and as I talked about during the review the fact that the story got to me the way it did was absolutely a surprise. Hats off to writer and director Michael Sarnoski for one hell of a film that without a doubt cements A Quiet Place as a top-tier sci-fi thriller franchise.

Bottom line, I already loved these movies and I love them even more now, and I will be re-watching the first two films immediately. I don’t care if you see A Quiet Place: Day One in a standard theater or go big with the IMAX, but you absolutely need to see this movie on the big-screen as soon as possible.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.1/10

A Quiet Place: Day One is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.