No One Will Save You

A sci-fi, horror, aliens landing, home invasion thriller — writer/director Brian Duffield’s followup to his 2020 video-on-demand release Spontaneous blends many ideas. Ironically, the minimalist approach is what sets the narrative apart. No One Will Save You is an odd but compelling picture. It debuted September 22 on streaming: Hulu in the United States, Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in other territories.

Brynn lives as a withdrawn individual who leads a solitary existence in a small town. One night, she awakens to observe an intruder in her abode. She soon discovers an extraterrestrial — the most classically rendered grey-skinned, humanoid version complete with a bald, oversized head, slanted almond-shaped eyes, and scarcely any other distinguishing features. What follows is a game of cat and mouse. The entity is vigorous and it has fellow associates. She fights back to fend off her attackers. Brynn escapes and runs toward the town. However, the local townsfolk are gradually taken over by the supernatural invaders. They pose a threat as well.

To describe the 93-minute saga as uncomplicated is a major understatement. The plot is simply “stalker chases prey.” We can hear Brynn breathe. She utters a few grunts but no dialogue beyond a single two-word utterance at the film’s conclusion. The lack of conversation or exposition is a gimmick. Why Brynn has retreated within the walls of her childhood home is a mystery. We have questions, but all will be revealed by the end. The reveal is a bit of an eye-roll, but all in all, an efficient nail-biter. I enjoyed it for what it was.

09-22-23