This review was made possible by an advance screening of No One Will Save You.
The idea of invasion is an incredibly discomforting experience for humans. Home invasion— because when our locked doors are breached, we lose all sense of security. Alien invasion— because an unknown, otherworldly enemy is even more terrifying. But what is quite possibly the most agonizing type of all? Self-introspection— Looking inwards, invading our own feelings of guilt, grief, and pain, and confronting them head-on, which is difficult but necessary.
No One Will Save You, the latest Hulu Original sci-fi horror from 20th Century Studios, brings you into such invasions with a tense and terrifying take on aliens. We’re brought into the life of Brynn (Kaitlyn Dever), a young woman living a solitary life in her lakehouse. She’s detached from society both physically and emotionally, due to a past trauma that has overtaken her life and destroyed her relationships. However, her uneventful way of living is very quickly upended by horrors beyond her wildest dreams.
We Come In Peace
One of the best parts of this particular extraterrestrial incursion is how we don’t have to wait around for too long to get to into the thick of it. After a short amount of set up showcasing Brynn’s lonely life, we dive right into the tense experience of someone— or something— sneaking into her house. What once was a warm, cozy cottage living room, is now a battleground for survival against an eerie creature lurking in the shadows. The whole scene is quite reminiscent of the third act of M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs— and that’s only the first third of this film! It left me excited to see where things could possibly go next.
As far as the design of the aliens themselves goes, at their core, they’re the stereotypical grey-skinned, big-black-eyed creatures of sci-fi fame. But the intricacies of how they walk, run, and use their inhuman powers makes them quite a creepy sight to behold. Past a certain point, the camera stops trying to conceal them in the shadows as much, and starts to focus on their bodies and facial features— removing some of the mystique. Don’t get me wrong… they’re well-designed, even if based on a generic archetype, and the VFX blends in perfectly most of the time— but the trigger on their reveal may have been pulled a little too early.
Invasion Into The Psyche
What follows the first act is a grander display of horror, as well as a deep dive into Brynn’s traumas that gave way to her quiet life. Not everything makes perfect sense by the end, but what does, is that she looked inside and invaded her own soul, facing thoughts and feelings that had held her in a chokehold for far too long. The aliens invading her home and upending her anxious existence, acted as a catalyst for her to do the same, in a way.
I think those themes— as well as a related gimmick No One Will Save You utilizes in its writing and performance— felt shallow throughout a good amount of the film. But, toward the end it all starts to come together and take center stage, bringing about the entire point of the film: At some point, you have to move on from your grief, and you have to forgive yourself for any pain you’ve caused— otherwise, you’ll be trapped as a shell of the person you once were, living a life devoid of joy.
Kaitlyn Dever did a fantastic job delivering this message through her performance, especially in the latter half of the movie. It’s a simple, yet beautiful message, even if slightly cryptically served.
‘No One Will Save You’ – Final Thoughts
No One Will Save You offers a classic alien invasion tale, full of thrills and chills— but it really takes to the sky when it lets humanity invade, providing a bittersweet, cathartic story exploring grief and heartache. Brian Duffield’s stellar directorial abilities are on full display, with edge-of-your-seat moments behind every corner. And, of course, Kaitlyn Dever delivers a fantastic performance, shining brightest when her character is pushed to her limits. With a simple, yet engaging premise, tense scares, and an emotional message, I can’t recommend this film enough.
No One Will Save You releases on Hulu on September 22, 2023. Check out the trailer below.
