Ginger Grrrl here.
Gentle human, when I heard that a cat was starring in a new horror film titled A Quiet Place: Day One, I knew I had to get my furry butt to the movie theater and see for myself.
In the film, cat actors Schnitzel and Nico steal the show. The two together portray a feline named Frodo, an emotional therapy animal for hospice cancer patient Sam (played by Oscar-winning actor Lupita Nyong’o).
The Film
It seems that you humans are obsessed with explosions and evil aliens. Sure enough, A Quiet Place: Day One features aliens’ violent attack on Earth and earthlings.
Furball Frodo gets right in the action helping Sam run and hide from the aliens along with another human survivor named Eric (played by Joseph Quinn).[1] The movie has plenty of fur-raising moments as aliens destroy buildings and eat people.
Amidst this horror, Frodo provides tender support to his humans. Several times, Frodo helps Sam and Eric calm down despite the devastation occurring around them. Of course, feline lovers know that Frodo’s tremendous power to promote peace during chaos is exactly what animal-assisted therapy cats are famous for. However, the nurturing role played by cats in the movie has been a surprise to many of you silly humans.
There are still too many people who haven’t taken the time to get to know a cat. Sadly, these humans are clueless about how we cats return kindness. But I digress.
This movie is fantastic! Compared to the original two Quiet Day movies, this film is more character-driven. The acting by humans and cats alike is fantastic.
The Critics Love Schnitzel & Nico
Human critics everywhere have given a nod to the cat actors’ talent. Barry Levitt of the Daily Beast stated, “It really does feel as if Frodo is looking into Eric’s soul, telling him everything’s going to be alright…. It’s a remarkable moment and a microcosm of Frodo’s tremendous presence: In the face of this sweet little cat, there’s an oasis of peace amidst unspeakable horror.”[2]
Other critics agree. For example, Ian Sandwell of The Daily Beast said, “Nyong’o and Quinn are superb, but they can’t compete with an adorable cat who clearly does not give a damn that he’s in an apocalypse.”[3]
Fun Facts about Schnitzel, Nico, and A Quiet Place: Day One
Here’s some trivia I picked out from an article in The New York Times [3]:
🐾 Several actors auditioned for the role of Frodo. Film writer and director Michael Sarnoski said that he chose Schnitzel because of “his nonchalant confidence, rugged looks, and intelligent face” and that Nico served as more of a stunt double.
🐾 Schnitzel and Nico had 12 weeks to train for the role, with the help of their agent trainer Jo Vaughan.
🐾 Nico is actually an all-white cat. His fur was dyed with an “animal-friendly” semi-permanent color to match Schnitzel’s black-and-white fur.
🐾 Schnitzel also appeared in the movie The Marvels.
🐾 Before filming began, lead actor Nyong’o was afraid of cats. She had to undergo therapy to get over her fear.
🐾 Kudos to Schnitzel and Nico for being so amazing that they inspired Nyong’o and Sarnoski to each adopt a cat when filming ended.
🐾 Schnitzel and Nico are represented by the management company Birds & Animals UK.
Note: You can see photos of all the dreamy cat stars at Birds & Animals UK‘s website: https://www.birdsandanimals.co.uk/animals#/cats/
Ginger Gets Real
About Cats & Humans
Remember, cats raised with kindness and respect have lots of love to give. For hints from me on how to choose and care for a cat, see https://mewlayoung.com/choosing-a-cat/.
To learn about how cats support people, see Ginger’s blog articles in the My Therapist Has Whiskers series. Check out topics including:
A Final Plea From Ginger
Unfortunately, too many naive humans haven’t experienced the strength of the human-cat bond. We furballs know that cats who are raised by compassionate people will, in turn, provide nourishing and even life-saving emotional support to their humans (see inset, above for how cats have helped adults, children, and teens).
Luckily, the creators of A Quiet Place: Day One have a strong understanding of cats and their ability to bond with humans. Let’s spread the word so all humans know that fuzz muffins like me are simply magnificent.
Paws up to writer and director Michael Sarnoski for his positive portrayal of our fabulous felines!
Please share a comment about cats and film below.
REFERENCES
- A Quiet Place: Day One. Downloaded July 30, 2024 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Quiet_Place:_Day_One
- Levitt, B. (July 2024). The Breakout Star of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One” Is…a Cat. Downloaded July 28, 2024 from https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-breakout-star-of-a-quiet-place-day-one-is-a-cat-named-sam
- Sandwell, I. (June 2024). A Quiet Place: Day One is not the horror prequel you’re expecting. Downloaded July 29, 2024 from https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a61417304/a-quiet-place-day-one-review/
- This Service Cat Has a Big Job. Downloaded July 2024 from https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/04/movies/quiet-place-day-one-cat.html
That sounds like a fabulous movie, Ginger Grrrrl! We definitely need to see that one!
Hope you like it, Leah!
Those kitty stars are adorable! Thank you for letting me know about this movie.I love your site!
So glad you do, Patty. Thanks for letting us know!
I am not big on movies, but Ginger and those kitty stars may have just persuaded me to stand in line for tickets to view this one.
Thank you Celinne!
Thanks for this interesting article Ginger Grrr. I looked at your link to the several cat actors. I agree. they are dreamy!
Thanks for sharing : )
Great article Ginger! Thanks for the fun facts, which really were fun. I didn’t know about this movie and will look for it..
I am not big on movies, but Ginger abd those kitty stars may have just persuaded me to stand in line for tickets to view this one.
Let us know if you like it!
Glad you liked it!
I would definitely check this out..thanks for sharing Ginger grrrll
We hope you enjoy it!