In the horror prequel, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” Lupita Nyong’o’s character, Sam, makes a striking choice at the end of the film. The filmmakers chose the song “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone to accompany this poignant moment, a perfect selection according to Nyong’o.In the horror prequel, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” Lupita Nyong’o’s character, Sam, makes a striking choice at the end of the film. The filmmakers chose the song “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone to accompany this poignant moment, a perfect selection according to Nyong’o. “It’s tragic, but it’s also satisfying that Sam is going out on her own terms,” Nyong’o explained. “Nina Simone has a built-in melancholy in her voice, and that comes through in that song.” The song’s lyrics, which express a sense of triumph despite the sadness, resonated with the filmmakers’ vision for the ending. “It somehow walks the fine line between a cry of sadness and euphoria,” Nyong’o remarked. Initially, the filmmakers considered using the more upbeat song “New York Groove” by Hello, but ultimately decided that Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” better captured the bittersweet emotions of the moment. In addition to Nyong’o’s powerful performance, the film features memorable performances from Joseph Quinn and the endearing cat, Frodo. Director Michael Sarnoski explained that Frodo’s inclusion was a nod to Sam’s resilience and the unlikely companionship they shared amidst the chaos.
Lupita Nyong’o says end A quiet place: day one with “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone was a perfect choice.
In the horror prequel, Lupita’s cancer-stricken character Sam makes a striking choice at the end of the film. Nyong’o believes writer-director Michael Sarnoski chose the perfect song to accompany the ending.
“It’s tragic, but it’s also satisfying that Sam is going out on her own terms. Nina Simone has a built-in melancholy in her voice, and that comes through in that song,” she said Today in the US. ‘It’s completely at odds with what she’s saying: the words are, ‘And I feel good.’ I think it somehow walks the fine line between a cry of sadness and euphoria.
“You want the protagonist to have influence and you want her to triumph,” Nyong’o continued. “The filmmakers asked themselves, ‘How can this moment be a triumph?’ But I think the song really sends it to that place.”
However, Sarnoski admitted that the song was not his first choice; he initially considered the more upbeat “New York Groove” by the glam rock band Hello.
“It was a bit on the nose. I wanted to make something that seemed hopeless really joyful. We tried a few songs to see what fit the moment, and Nina Simone just worked really well,” he said.
While the film features memorable performances from Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn, fans quickly took Sam’s cat Frodo to their hearts.
“Once I landed on Frodo, I knew that was it. It just made sense to give a little nod to the journey they’re on together,” Sarnoski said.
“I always imagined him as this smart alley cat that Sam found and raised in New York when she was young. This image of her walking with a cat through the devastated New York City just seemed perfect. Also knowing that a cat would be one of the few animals that would have a chance of surviving in the Quiet place world because they can stalk and prowl. I don’t think a dog would do as well,” he said.
