For the first two-thirds, NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU plays like THE QUIET PLACE sequel that audiences didn’t know we needed. Held together by a captivating lead performance by Kaitlyn Dever, I thought NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU would become my sleepy hit of the year. Then that final act hits, and I’m still puzzled by the tonal shift that director Brian Duffield aims for but narrowly misses.
Yet, I encourage all thriller aficionados to watch the first sixty-five minutes. I viewed this film with noise-canceling headphones, and each jump scare and synthesized music cue from Joseph Trapanese worked. They expertly crafted a story that’s eerily familiar yet strangely different. It’s a genre mash-up that Charlie Booker would’ve been proud to have on BLACK MIRROR.
The best horror films tie a character riddled with grief or tragedy to an extreme situation that hopefully sets them on the path to healing. NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU utilizes this plot-framing to mixed success. Again, if they would’ve stuck the landing, this would be a top-ten film of 2023. However, as it stands, it’s a solid B movie, elevated by superb technical craftsmanship and an ending that will alienate viewers.
It’s available on Hulu.
