Our take
Part sci-fi and part psychological horror, No One Will Save You is an impressive outing that serves as a vehicle for Dever’s one-woman show. She is a powerhouse, a nonstop show of talent that doesn’t seem to run out of fuel. The scenes are grueling and excruciating, they involve a lot of physical, mental, and emotional turmoil, but somehow, Dever rises to the challenge with unbelievable ease. Sure, sci-fi lovers will find much to discuss in these unearthly creatures, and cinephiles will appreciate how the film relies almost solely on sound design and a single line of dialogue. But it’s Dever who does the heavy lifting here, and it’s especially apparent when the film tries, weakly, to delve into Brynn’s psyche and the town’s sociological workings. It’s not as impressive in those regards, but Dever is strong enough an actress to make you forgive the movie’s frailer parts.
Streaming arrival
What it won
WGA
1 nom
The story
A lonely woman battles extraterrestrials who threaten her future while forcing her to face her past.
Elsewhere
"Just when you think you have a good handle on where things might be going next, Duffield spins around and spears those expectations in the head with the spire of a miniature church."
— David Ehrlich
"Duffield sets multiple creative challenges for himself and mostly succeeds — well enough to attract eyeballs to this buzz-worthy Hulu release, at least."
— Peter Debruge
An alien invasion forces Brynn (Kaitlyn Dever), the town outcast, to defend her home and herself with everything she can muster.
It’s been a while since I saw the bulbous, gray, and bug-eyed faces of these aliens on the big screen, and for good reason. The classic rendering of a UFO might’ve started out terrifying, but after decades of being cartooned and lampooned in many forms of media, they’ve ceased to retain their terror. I appreciate the filmmakers trying to make them scary once more for a newer audience, but I fear they’re just too kitschy for a modern horror movie.
More than anything, this movie is a showcase for Kaitlyn Dever’s great talent as an actress, not that you needed any more reminding.
The details
Who picked it
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
