When it comes to horror films, there are few things quite as gratifying as a genuinely really good alien horror film. A largely untapped sub-genre compared to, say, zombies, there are many particularly good stand-outs that go often under appreciated (Fire in the Sky, The Fourth Kind, Sputnik, Life), a select few that reach legendary status (Alien, Predator, The McPherson Tape) and so many others that fall into cult status (Critters) or crash and burn as disappointments (Skyline).
So it has us beaming to see one literally come from nowhere in Brian Duffield’s (Spontaneous) No One Will Save You, which has just invaded Disney+ (over here in the UK) and Hulu, and is set to leave you spinning more than a flying saucer.
The film stars Kaitlyn Dever as Brynn, a reserved and somewhat isolated young woman, who lives alone and spends her time crafting, cooking and writing to her friend. Then, one night, she is awoken by strange noises downstairs, finding she has an unexpected visitor who is not of this Earth. What then plays out is a cat and mouse game of survival, whereby Brynn will have to face her past to have any hopes of a future.
No One Will Save You is an absolutely incredible alien horror/sci-fi, perhaps the best to come along in years. What starts as a home invasion thriller, slowly spirals towards a final act that delivers such a bold, potentially divisive, genre-bending delight, it catches you off guard completely. No One Will Save You is a suspenseful character-driven treat that at times blends the thrills of A Quiet Place with the wild story swings of The Twilight Zone, and the result is a Signs for the 2020s…albeit the film itself is a far different beast.
Practically dialogue-free, writer/director Brian Duffield’s film is immaculately assembled, both physical and reliant on the details of its settings, and the sounds in the distance, it also carries an eccentric edge. Ultimately unfolding into a deeply personal story of loneliness, grief and remorse, and how the resulting anxieties of such human experiences can create a world alien enough already.
At its core, Kaitlyn Dever delivers an astonishing and captivating central performance, one full of heart, suffering and the power of sheer will. Her character proving relatable to many of us whom have felt the world has left us all alone, chosen to blanket ourselves in our own imaginary world, or who have been damaged by the destructive power of regret or the past.
The horror beats are tension-riddled and genuinely creepy or alarming, while the visuals are absolutely incredible, with one of the most impressive examples of maximising budget and resources to come along in a while. Seriously, this film knocks the spots of many mega budgeted fare that cost about ten times the price. The extra terrestrial creatures are proudly on show (and these greys are nasty) in a film that transfixes you in its unique light early and often, and continues to intrigue and expand as it plays out across its weird, breathless, and intense, 93 minutes.
The assembly of its story is hugely impressive, just as the experience is so refreshingly unexpected, and when its final image and story conclusion arrives, it provides a strange sense of catharsis that stays with you in its unusual and yet perfect power. How unfortunate it is that we could not witness this on the big screen because No One Will Save You is hugely cinematic.
No One Will Save You is a close encounter you will welcome, a wild, outstanding, terrifically conceived marriage of big screen popcorn thrill and joyously independent cinema soul, all wrapped around a compelling central performance and surprising story that speaks to many of us that feel alone.
No One Will Save You is showing now on Disney+
