A Quiet Place: Day One revolves around the character of Sam, whose biggest motivation at the end of the world appears to be getting some pizza in New York City. A Quiet Place: Day One is the latest entry in the extraordinary sci-fi horror series by John Krasinski. Day One is the first film in the series which is not directed by Krasinski, and he does not appear in the film as it follows a new cast in the heart of New York.

Each of the Quiet Place movies have proven to be extremely emotional, as well as terrifying due to the presence of monsters. The first two movies focus on the Abbott family, who use their intellect and resourcefulness to survive despite the killer aliens that have decimated the population of Earth. In Day One, the central figure is a woman with a terminal illness named Sam, but unlike the Abbott’s and the rest of the survivors, she has a unique motivation for avoiding the aliens.

Patsy’s Pizza Reminds Sam Of Her Dad & Happiness

It’s Not Really About The Pizza

As mentioned previously, A Quiet Place movies are different from typical jump scare horrors due to the emotional weight of the films. While Sam hunting down a slice of New York style pizza may seem considerably less serious than protecting one’s family, the film still manages to be extremely heartfelt and moving. And surprisingly, that emotion actually revolves around the quest for Patsy’s pizza, which reminds her of fond memories with her father when she was a girl.

The fact is, that when the aliens attack, Sam is already close to death. She was visiting New York on a day trip from her hospice. The threat of death is not new, and for Sam, it’s important to still feel some degree of control over her circumstances. As a result, with defiance and sheer determination, Sam chooses to walk into the heart of Harlem, away from the crowds gathering to the boats and the promise of safety. Sam goes to Patsy’s and the jazz club next door to remember her father, and shuffles off this mortal coil on her terms.

Sam Just Wanted To Have Another Happy Memory Before She Died

Better To Go Out With One Last Smile

At the start of A Quiet Movie: Day One, when Sam is invited to come into New York with the others for an outing, the thing that makes her say yes is the prospect of getting pizza. She also mentions that the last time she went into the city was “supposed to be the last time,” but as the nurse points out, now there is this time. Sam is set on remembering her father and her childhood one last time before she goes, and just because aliens crash-landed in the city, that doesn’t change things for her.

If anything, the indeterminate length of time before she would eventually pass was more of a reason to sit back and do nothing. Knowing that aliens could take her at any moment, her desire to get to Patsy’s became her sole focus, and the driving force for her survival. And ultimately, what could easily come off as a futile and meaningless motivation to get pizza at the end of the world becomes something much more significant, and the emotional core of an outstanding movie in A Quiet Place: Day One.