I love talking about films that really resonate with me, about films that I wish I had come up with the idea for. Oh, how I wish I had seen this in the cinema rather than on a streaming service... Anyway, I believe that the merits of "No One Will Save You" rest on three major pillars:
1 - I've seen several dialogue-free films before. Some have worked quite well (Kim Ki-duk's films come to mind), while others feel like forced gimmicks. Few have been as effective in the "show, don't tell" maxim. Some may consider this script basic, but that's a mistake. It may not be a 100-page script, but it's a perfect and well-crafted script for the concept and medium at hand. For some reason, someone wants to write a film script and not a book, and this is how the story should be imagined, through exciting and highly creative visual storytelling. Besides the way the story is conveyed without ever leaving doubts about what we're seeing and the motivations of each character (including the aliens!), the themes are expertly integrated without the need for exposition dumps that are so prevalent in cinema today. The device never feels like a gimmick, especially when you consider how the main character lives, where silence has always been her word. Despite the lack of dialogue, the film never wastes time, quickly plunging us into action without lengthy introductions, revealing more about its main story and the character's background - and the film's themes - through hints throughout the film, all while maintaining its brisk pace. Nevertheless, I understand those who believe that the backstory and its implications could have been better developed.
2 - The suspense created is at a Hitchcockian level. The basic premises are here: the catalytic event - which is usually a sound -, the search for the unknown, the threats, the confrontation. All done in such a classic and seemingly basic way. For this to work, everything has to come together perfectly, and it does top-notch sound design that considers the impact on the viewer as an integral part of the experience, whether with loud or subtle sounds; a well-incorporated soundtrack that suits the intended atmosphere and the moment in each scene; highly imaginative camera movement that draws us into unexpected angles and views; constant surprises, even when we think this story is nothing more than a mix of what we've seen in "The Twilight Zone," "The X-Files," or "Signs." The special effects - especially the creature design - may be quite simple, perhaps not entirely convincing or terrifying, using many familiar tricks, but this helps to create a charming classic aura. It could easily be a work from the 1980s. And who wouldn't want to go back to the '80s?
3 - The performance of the lead actress, who is in virtually every scene of the film. Kaitlyn Dever is brilliant. I had never recognized her value to this extent before. I was captivated. In a film where almost all other merits would matter little if the lead character were not well portrayed, Dever gives her all with one of the most physically and emotionally rewarding performances I've seen in contemporary cinema. What she is asked to do without words is truly remarkable. It's incredible how everything she thinks, feels or does is conveyed to us without anything being said verbally.
There are additional points to consider for other aspects of "No One Will Save You." Of course, it earns an extra point for delving into one of my favourite themes in horror and science fiction (extraterrestrials and UFOs!). It earns another extra point for having a courageous and risky ending (which I loved) that will divide cinephiles and even more so those who are merely moviegoers. It also deserves another extra point for having the guts to do what many - the smartphone brigade - might consider pathetic and lame (the film is basically the third act of "Signs"!). But it earns most of its extra points for paying homage to classics while never forgetting its originality. While the initial concept - both the choice of being dialogue-free and the alien invasion - strongly resembles the classic episode "The Invaders" (1961) from "The Twilight Zone," there are clear references to various past works, from the aforementioned "Signs" (2002) to "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956 and 1978), "The X-Files" (1993), or even "Gremlins" (1984). This, of course, without neglecting the clear influence of Steven Spielberg's cinema (perhaps that's why I loved it so much!). Nevertheless, "No One Will Save You" is very much its own thing, never losing itself in its array of influences. It takes unexpected paths and uses those influences to pay homage rather than imitate.
Smartphones far away, lights off, and proper screen and sound setup (no laptops), these are basic recommendations for any film, but here they take on an extra dimension. "No One Will Save You" virtually has no dialogue, and it doesn't need it because it's one of the best examples ever of employing the "show, don't tell" principle. Tension is maximised through creative camera movement, incredible sound work, and numerous surprises around every corner. Kaitlyn Dever delivers a fascinating performance in a role that demands a lot from her. The biggest surprise of 2023 so far.
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