 Tagline: Everyone Runs. Everyone Hides. A ruthless criminal gang takes a young couple hostage and goes to ground in an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. When the captive girl is killed, the tables are unexpectedly turned. The gang finds itself outsmarted by an urbane and seasoned killer determined to ensure that no one lives. Storyline: A gang of ruthless highway killers kidnap a wealthy couple traveling cross country only to shockingly discover that things are not what they seem. Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman on August 20, 2013 -- Don't make the mistake of labeling No One Lives as "just another Horror movie." It certainly plays with classic "Slasher" elements and embraces the modern Horror staple of excess gore and, usually, gore for gore's sake, but to call the picture a straight genre film would be to miss the point. What that point is isn't so clear, however, but one thing that is for certain is that No One Lives largely charts its own course through the murky waters of modern lower budget fare and gives an honest go at formulating a new dynamic, even if it embraces old pieces. The picture is largely a product of its tables-turned plot switch-a-roo, a single shakeup in how these things are normally done to interest and, more importunity, invigorate its viewers beyond standard trope. And, surprisingly, that's enough. Whether that's because everything else in these sorts of movies is so stale or the film actually paints a picture worth seeing is up in the air, but cases may be made for both. The novelty brings an added edge, removing the usual audience anticipation, immediately canceling out the audience's preconditioning to accept convention and instead expect the unexpected. What's better is that No One Lives actually works that dynamic to its favor, elevating it beyond gimmick and into something worth watching develop, even in all its gruesome goodness (or nastiness, depending on one's perspective). A young girl is snared in a trap while fleeing for her life. Her disappearance is making news, and is particularly noteworthy in the local Spokane area where she disappeared and evidence shows she still may be alive. The story is of particular note to a young couple (Luke Evans and Laura Ramsey) on the road, lodging in a low-rent motel, and apparently working through relationship problems. Meanwhile, and nearby, a band of robbers are caught raiding an upper-class home. Violence ensues, leaving the homeowners dead. Their paths cross with the young couple at a bar later that night. The meeting is anything but cordial, and the couple is ultimately kidnapped. Little do the robbers realize, however, that they're not dealing with any ordinary hostages, that a night of what should be quick riches is about to devolve into the messiest bloodbath they could possibly imagine. There are really only two things that make No One Lives worth a movie watcher's time: the original plot twist and the gore. As for the former first, it comes unexpectedly and early, shaking up the audience and completely reconfiguring expectations for the film. It's successful for two reasons. First is the unexpectedness -- it's a true "left field" sort of moment -- and second, and perhaps more importantly, is how well the movie sets things up to play to the status quo only to shatter the illusion and comfort. It builds traditional narrative structures, inside of which are typical protagonists and antagonists, albeit protagonists and antagonists with subtly different auras to them, mysteries that aren't made obvious but that make much more sense from the time of the transition on forward. The "tables turned" novelty helps mask the film's additional shortcomings, including unimaginative dialogue, shaky character motivations, and substandard acting. It also contributes in a positive way to the already effective dark and unforgiving atmosphere that helps establish the sense of chaotic dread and violence that permeates every scene. Then there's the film's gore, a parade of violence and a saturation of blood quite unlike anything else out there. It's not as stupidly brutal as some films nor as purely intense as others, but the combination of excess and the graphic nature of it all will leave many unsettled. It pushes the boundaries of realism, never mind taste, when a character emerges from a hiding place that's, well, that's certainly not expected. It's the film's signature shot and a bloody unforgettable one at that. No One Lives never quite finds the perfect balance between its visual excesses and the story, however. It often feels more grotesque because it can be grotesque, not necessarily because a scene demands so much grotesqueness. That's the film's main problem, encapsulated. There's a strong twist and a decent story to accompany it, but there's a feeling of the best pieces taking a backseat to the lesser pieces. Fortunately, what the film gets right is enough to carry it, even when it's weighed down quite heavily by its ancillary pieces. The film could use more balance, but for a novelty aimed at audiences who appreciate a good bloodbath and an unexpected early twist, No One Lives makes for a must-see movie. No One Lives isn't cinema as high art. It's not even all that noteworthy beyond its brutality and eagerness to display carnage in all its nastiness, except for a quality twist that redirects the movie from an average tale of Horror/Survival into something rather unique that leaves the audience uncertain of what to expect, not sure what outcome to want, and uncomfortable in a movie that convention says should fit like a well-worn glove. The picture has its flaws, but it has its positives, too. Gore aficionados will never forget the picture's trademark scene, and curious audiences who can stomach the carnage will find a movie in which convention is turned on its head. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of No One Lives features high quality video and audio. Supplements are limited to a single featurette, but it's a good one. Recommended to appropriate audiences, but certainly not recommended to those with an aversion to on-screen brutality. Cast Notes: Luke Evans (Driver), Adelaide Clemens (Emma), Lee Tergesen (Hoag), Derek Magyar (Flynn), America Olivo (Tamara), Beau Knapp (Denny), Lindsey Shaw (Amber), George Murdoch (Ethan [as Brodus Clay]), Laura Ramsey (Betty), Gary Grubbs (Harris), Andrea Frankle (Mom), Rob Steinberg (Father), Jake Austin Walker (Older Boy), Dalton E. Gray (Younger Boy), Lenore Banks (Helen). User Comment: abisio from Miami, 17 September 2012 o No One Lives is the type of movie that starts as many others and suddenly becomes something unexpected. It is difficult to tell what happens without spoiling; but as in others Ryûhei Kitamura movies, there is no Good vs Evil but Evil vs Evil. If you never see any of his movies; get VERSUS before looking at this one. Performances varies; Luke Evans is perfect; totally charismatic and captivating. Derek Magyar is terrifying as a psycho meeting his match. Laura Ramsey is pretty good as the other female characters; but Adelaide Clemens disappoints in a complex character far above her acting skills. There is strong violence and gore but it never gets too disgusting (or at least too realistic) and are lots of dark funny moments. Summary: Another fascinating Kitamura movie User Comment: J. Davis (horrorsession@gmail.com) from USA, 12 June 2013 o I've had my eye on No One Lives for a while and in that time I had forged good expectations for the film. What more could an avid horror fan want when such a solid cast gets paired up with one of the most interesting horror directors in the biz in Ryûhei Kitamura, known widely for his direction of the 2000 film "Versus" & more recently for his 2008 "The Midnight Meat Train". So it seemed the film's success would likely all come down to the quality of the script put forth by first time writer David Cohen. This is definitely one of those films that is extremely hard to review without spoiling things, so I will stick to relaying the most basic plot line as possible. After botching their last job, a crew of merciless, degenerate criminals encounter a man(Luke Evans) & his girlfriend while eating at a restaurant. This spirals into a further violent meeting between the two which get's more interesting as we come to learn just where the real danger lies. The clash turns bloody as the balance of power shifts & the gore begins to rain down. Of course it helps to keep in mind that this is in fact a horror film and that you're not going to witness any award winning performances, but there are some really solid efforts given by Evans as the "Driver" & Adelaide Clemens who plays Emma, a kidnap victim who has been hardened by long lengths of mental & physical torture. There are a couple of scenes that are sure to please the sickest of fans while at the same time may seem a bit on the gory side to the average viewer, but overall I felt this was a very enjoyable, entertaining vision delivered by Kitamura. He lays down a few subtle nuances early in the film that become clear to the audience later if you pay close attention, the best being revealed near the end of the film. As for the downside of the film, there were some real snags in the script that I felt could have been changed and yes there are a few holes in the plot, most of which were used primarily as a vehicle to exploit certain plot developments. Or in one case to present one heck of a bloody surprise, you'll know what I mean after you see it;] Despite those problems, the film still managed to rise above the average effort, but I believe that it was those weak script points that hurt the film in theaters & the reason it may draw further criticism in the future. So in the end, if you're trying to decide if this will be a good pick for your horror/gore itch then I can definitely recommend this as a top choice, but if you're looking for a smart thriller with a well-developed story then this may not be your best choice, but I wouldn't let it stop you from renting it. Summary: Not entirely perfect, but still a good, entertaining horror flick. [CSW] -3.6- Dark, intense slasher movie doesn't revolutionize the genre, but at least tries to be a little different. The less said about the plot the better, since one of the movie's small triumphs is that we're never quite sure where all of this craziness is going. The director has taken a real risk here by making a psycho thriller with a cast of characters ranging from the reprehensibly stupid to the stupidly reprehensible. Our total lack of identification with any of the characters saps any suspense out of the movie, and that means that gore fans can just sit back and enjoy the carnage. Generally decent acting, though I believe this could have been much better with a more believably menacing and intimidating actor in the principal psycho role. Anyway, worth a watch for gorehounds and slasher movie fans and I think one of the better ones exactly because you never know where it is going. [V4.5-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box. IMDb Rating (03/07/15): 5.9/10 from 10,807 users IMDb Rating (07/29/13): 5.8/10 from 3,714 users
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