Movies With a Message: No One Lives (2012)

A brutal, gory subversion of expectations, “No One Lives” is a hidden gem about dangerous assumptions, consequences, and fatalism.

Written by David Cohen and directed by Ryuhei Kitamura (known for Midnight Meat Train and Versus, and more recently, Downrange and The Price We Pay), No One Lives is a brutal and intense horror movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

The film follows a group of rural criminals who kidnap a wealthy couple, mistaking them for an easy target. It’s a big mistake; their victims are not as innocent as they seem.

The movie’s message is a refreshing take on a classic horror trope. It reminds us that everyone is hiding something and that you should never judge a book by its cover. It also teaches the valuable lesson of being careful what you wish for, as the kidnappers’ greed ultimately leads to their downfall. Sometimes, it’s just better to mind your own business.

If the term ‘fuck around and find out’ was ever applicable, it was in this film.

If you’ve seen You’re Next, the premise might feel a bit familiar. That film depicts a situation where a group of intruders targets the wrong family, as one of the victims turns out to be a highly skilled survivalist. In a similar vein, No One Lives attempts a comparable twist by revealing that the character Driver is not just an ordinary person but a highly trained fighter akin to Jason Bourne or a less appealing John Wick.

No One Lives does a great job of building tension and keeping the audience guessing.

The splashes of violence, gore, and evisceration are not for the faint of heart, but they are done in a way that adds to the film’s overall atmosphere.

Using Super-16 instead of digital, cinematographer Daniel Pearl achieves a pleasing blend of classic grain and contemporary shine, avoiding the overused brown color palette that was standard at the time.

The standout performance in the movie comes from Luke Evans, who plays a nameless and cold-blooded psycho killer who is only recognized as “Driver” in the credits. He is both terrifying and captivating to watch on screen. The rest of the cast also does a great job in their roles, adding to the overall intensity of the film.

The movie’s plot is not particularly original but executed well. The twists and turns keep the viewer engaged, and the pacing is just right, never feeling too slow or rushed.

One of the strengths of NO ONE LIVES is its use of practical effects. The gore and violence feel authentic and add to the overall horror of the film.

The cinematography is also well done, with dark and gritty visuals that add to the eerie atmosphere.

However, the movie does have some flaws. The characters are not very fleshed out, and it is hard to care about their fates. The dialogue can also feel a bit cheesy and cliché at times. These poor rural criminals are just too simplistic and lack depth.

There seems to be an intention for us to favor specific individuals within this diverse group. However, as Driver begins eliminating them one by one, it becomes unclear who we should support: the rednecks or the psychotic Jason Bourne. It could be argued that this was intentional, designed to prevent the audience from getting attached to the characters. However, it does make it hard to care about what happens to them.

Ultimately, the film’s title reveals its core nihilistic message: death comes for us all; no one makes it out alive.