Film Review: No One Will Save You (2023)

Sometimes what's not being sad is scarier than words spoken. This couldn't be more true in Brian Duffield's masterpiece of a sci-fi horror film No One Will Save You. This groundbreaking movie smashes genre tropes while giving us one of the best onscreen performances of the year (if not the decade). While on the surface, this film will be described by many as an alien home invasion thriller. While it is that, No One Will Save You is so much more. It's the multilayers that sets this movie apart. Here, you have an anti-hero's journey in the main character of Brynn. Desperate for redemption, it is her need for forgiveness that drives her through the film - recognizing the chance to save herself from the aliens who have invaded her life and home, while also saving herself from herself. Duffield's story is brilliant on many levels. It's rare in a film of this genre that we're given such a heartbreaking and intimate look into a character's emotional state, especially one that's committed a violent crime. From every perspective, we're not supposed to like Brynn. But we do. In fact, we're rooting for her to the very (unforgettable) end. Every production element of this movie is a cinematic master class in filmmaking. Aside from the ingenious and very original script, the production design (Ramsey Avery) and art direction (Kristin Lekki and Alice Alward) are exquisitely detailed and captivating. Similarly, Joseph Trapanese's score is breathtaking. Bravo to Duffield's extraordinary special effects team whose work is remarkable. Yet, the absolute standout here is Kaitlyn Dever, who plays our broken and flawed main character with a mesmerizing mixture of vulnerability and strength. Hers is a performance that is elevated above her peers, as Dever proves she can carry an entire film with very few onscreen characters and even less words of dialogue spoken. I anticipate hearing Dever's name mentioned a lot during the upcoming awards season and deservedly so. While the sparse dialogue aspect of No One Will Save You might seem gimmicky and serve as a great marketing tool, Duffield's hit film demonstrates that the real terror is silent and lies within.

David-Matthew Barnes

🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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David-Matthew Barnes' Top Twelve Horror Films

In alphabetical order because I love them all. Aliens (1986) Sigourney Weaver is the ultimate alien-fighting heroine is this horror-action classic, featuring one of the best spoken lines in any film: "Get away from her, you bitch!" Bride of Frankenstein (1935) One of the best sequels ever made (and even better than Frankenstein, in my opinion), owed to Elsa Lanchester's brilliant performance in the title role and James Whale's masterful direction. Black Christmas (1974) One of the first slasher films, this creepy tale set in a sorority house influenced many similar movies to follow. The Changeling (1980) Truly one of the best ghost stories made for the screen, this film is a horror masterpiece. Curtains (1983) This Canadian slasher flick features one the scariest ice skating sequences ever. The Fury (1978) This was the first horror film I saw as a child and it's impact on me has been lifelong. Amy Irving's final moment of revenge makes this great movie we

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