No One Will Save You – Kaitlyn Dever Shines in This Unpredictable Genre Mix
Imagine a young and lonely woman, a compact 93-minute runtime, a fast-paced journey through sci-fi, horror, and thriller elements—and all of it intensely engaging. That’s what “No One Will Save You,” directed and written by Brian Duffield (“Spontaneous”), has to offer, especially if you’re willing to dive into this Disney+ exclusive horror film without any prior knowledge. In fact, we recommend refraining from reading this review until after you’ve experienced the movie for yourself.
Avoid any further information for now and watch how Duffield, along with the exceptional lead actress Kaitlyn Dever (“Booksmart”), seamlessly weaves familiar elements from decades of sci-fi suspense cinema into a gripping, new whole filled with emotions. Afterward, you can return to this review and assess how much you agree with our recommendation.
Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever) lives in an old-fashioned house on the outskirts of a peaceful town. The townsfolk are not fond of her, so Brynn spends her days alone—taking care of her picturesque model town, dancing to old pop music, and writing letters. Her quiet life takes a sharp turn when an extraterrestrial being sneaks into her house one night. The recluse is terrified, but what can she do? Fight or flee?
Before the alien intrudes into her home, Duffield effectively establishes his protagonist. As Brynn goes about her daily routine, we get a clear sense of the surroundings, allowing us to mentally strategize alongside her when it comes to hiding, escaping, or fighting. Her sympathetic character gains our favor just through the unprovoked, annoyed reactions of her neighbors. Most importantly, Duffield paints a surprisingly realistic picture of a young person living alone.
A HERO WHO DOESN’T SPEAK!
In contrast to many lonely film characters, Brynn refrains from engaging in lengthy (and thinly veiled exposition-providing) soliloquies. She sighs, groans, moans when pierced by unfriendly glances. In a thoughtful and cheerful moment, she almost inaudibly hums the lyrics of a song. When frustrated, a few muttered words blend with her grumbling. But she doesn’t talk.
This is not only refreshing; Duffield creates a down-to-earth start that grounds the film before the supernatural events and heightened emotions kick in. Once the alien attack begins, the tranquil initial setting transforms into a turbulent genre ride that consistently explores the tonal possibilities of its premise. In one moment, Duffield generates great tension using classic yet precisely deployed techniques like diffused light and atmospheric sound mixing. In the next, the almost cartoonishly animated facial expression of a wounded alien creates stark situational comedy. The suspenseful moments are interjected with action-packed cat-and-mouse games. Duffield cleverly utilizes the possibilities of the setting, creating tense dilemmas. When Brynn suddenly finds herself trapped with her back against the wall due to a cracked refrigerator door, the question arises: Is this a moment of relief because she can’t be seen anymore and is therefore well-hidden, or is she caught in a trap?
But on a stylistic level, the director also keeps us on edge. Brynn’s speechlessness is consistently maintained. Even during the alien attack, she refrains from using clear words. This creates an almost unspoken element of suspense: Every time Brynn attempts to call for help, we not only wonder if she will succeed but also speculate if she will speak this time. Or perhaps we ponder what will happen and intervene this time before she utters a single word?!
KAITLYN DEVER IS SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!
This gripping effect is heightened due to the authentic performance at the heart of the film. Kaitlyn Dever, who has already demonstrated her talent in series like “Private Practice” and “Justified” as a teenager, as well as in films like “Short Term 12” and “Bad Teacher,” delivers a career-best performance here. She communicates volumes with her expressions and body language alone. After a few minutes of the film, you’ll believe you can discern profound meaning even in her every gasp. This talent becomes increasingly apparent as Brynn attempts to decipher the motives and actions of the attackers while remaining isolated and having no reason to talk.
Since Duffield consistently focuses on his heroine, a sense of despair and helplessness emerges. Every setback deeply affects us because Brynn is our sole point of connection, and she brings significant potential for identification. Dever not only makes her extremely relatable but also compels us to invest as much time in interpreting her facial expressions as in speculating about what the aliens will do next.
What begins as a relatively straightforward invasion thriller with Brynn’s loneliness and its corresponding consequences taking center stage evolves into a more profound experience. Several spine-tingling moments gradually reveal how cleverly Duffield has orchestrated all aspects of “No One Will Save You” and how far-reaching the conflicts are. The nostalgic touch adds to the overall package, as Duffield offers multiple perspectives on the film:
Details such as Brynn’s old-fashioned yet well-maintained interior design represent the expression of a solitary personality disconnected from her surroundings. Simultaneously, it serves as an aesthetic reference to the era of the classic series “The Twilight Zone,” which undoubtedly influenced parts of this film. Brynn’s wordlessness, on the other hand, is a nod to silent film, a stylistic twist disrupting suspense storytelling conventions, or an emphasis on a thematic thread.
In the end, “No One Will Save You” can be labeled in various ways: it’s an effective sci-fi throwback to narratively straightforward cinematic times; it’s a significant analogy in the style of the currently discussed elevated horror genre; it’s “Signs” by M. Night Shyamalan but with action, or it’s simply a careful modernization of “The Twilight Zone.” The risk for a director in juggling so many labels is considerable, but Duffield masterfully embraces them all.
Conclusion: A career-best performance within a highly suspenseful, entertaining, and emotionally charged blend of sci-fi, horror, and thriller traditions. Loneliness has rarely been as gripping as in “No One Will Save You.”