Warning! This article contains spoilers for No One Will Save You.
Summary
Director Brian Duffield of No One Will Save You discloses that 20th Century Studios emphasized the importance of avoiding excessive villainy when designing the aliens in the film. Consequently, this decision rendered the creatures more intriguing and slightly unconventional, setting the movie apart from other works within the alien invasion genre.
The aliens' curious nature adds to the suspense-driven narrative of Duffield, enabling the film to solely concentrate on the journey of Brynn, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever.
Director Brian Duffield, of "No One Will Save You," shares the studio note that enhanced the film. Recently released on Hulu, this thrilling alien invasion movie has received acclaim from both viewers and reviewers. Dever shines as Brynn, a solitary woman forced to protect herself when aliens attack her home.
In a recent interview with Slash Film, breaking down the ending, aliens, and main character of No One Will Save You, Duffield revealed that 20th Century Studios provided him with a note that significantly improved the film. According to the director, the studio played a crucial role in ensuring that the aliens, referred to as "the Grays," were not portrayed as the typical malevolent invaders. Duffield explained that even during the post-production VFX phase, the studio insisted on avoiding scenes where the UFOs would destroy objects in the background. Their reasoning behind this decision was always logical, and they were successful in convincing him of their perspective.
The content was fascinating and it was an idea I presented when I began working on the movie. I wanted the invaders to have a different perspective, not necessarily thinking of themselves as villains. This added an interesting and unconventional aspect to their characters. The studio emphasized the importance of ensuring that if the alien pursued Brynn aggressively, there had to be a valid trigger for that behavior.
It was an enjoyable challenge, as the studio constantly reminded me to strike a balance with the Grays. They are the antagonists, but not inherently evil. This aspect of the story was particularly exciting, especially in the third act of the movie.
“They gracefully danced along this fine line, and they're absolutely right — if they were ever to veer towards the realm of malevolence, some of the plot developments simply wouldn't add up. It's an incredibly intriguing aspect. I reckon in most other scenarios, people would've been like, ‘Yeah, they should be obliterating entire cities.’ At one juncture, they even suggested, ‘Oh, they should extinguish that fire.’ I couldn't help but find it amusing. They had this entire reasoning — the alien's character would dictate that they should extinguish the fire rather than ignite it. And I was thinking to myself, ‘That's genuinely fascinating.’”
No One Will Save You Gets Aliens Right
Upon their entrance in No One Will Save You, the intentions and strategies of the Grays remain ambiguous. Unlike films such as Independence Day or Cloverfield, where aliens unleash chaos upon entire communities, these enigmatic creatures embark upon a subdued infiltration, seemingly focused on surveying and manipulating the resident inhabitants.
There is no inherent superiority or inferiority between the two approaches to aliens, but Duffield's approach clearly suits his narrative centered on suspense. The invasion in Dever's No One Will Save You is less explosive and more controlled, allowing for deeper exploration of the protagonist. Instead of being compelled to address the broader implications of an alien invasion, such as extensive military mobilization, the film maintains a more focused perspective.
The less destructive nature of the aliens in No One Will Save You also prompts questions. While the movie does not delve too deeply into the reasons for the Grays' presence on Earth, their approach to invading the planet suggests a potential search for a new home. By avoiding excessive villainization of the Grays, these creatures feel more authentic and multidimensional in No One Will Save You, enhancing the film's eerie atmosphere and grounded execution.
Source: Slash Film