SAVE YOURSELVES! (2020)

SAVE YOURSELVES! (2020)

Tagline:  Turning off their phones was the dumbest idea on the planet.

(Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy) [R]

The pouffe! It pouffed us!

In this one, a couple goes out to a cabin retreat. The retreat itself actually cost Su (played by Sunita Mani best known for the TV show Mr. Robot) her job, so she is looking to get everything she can out of it. For her, that means asking some questions that will bring them closer together, like actually talking. Jack (played by John Reynolds known for STRANGER THINGS) responds well and things go amazing, but not long after the two realize something is very wrong. Freakin aliens. They are basically CRITTERS with no face, they are all fur-ball. 

First off, where this movie works is in the fact that it’s using a tried and true alien “type”, “small furry creatures” but giving us them in the most minimalistic way possible. This allows the relationship-focused movie room to breathe. SAVE YOURSELVES! Is not a big ray gun, explosions in your face, action-packed romp. Think more in terms of a drama where aliens are kind of the backdrop. 

Where this movie fails is in the execution. The directors claim that they intentionally left the details people could have used to enjoy this movie more out. That intention makes the way this thing ends even more bizarre to me. The lack of attention to detail and giving at least glimpses into the world Su and Jack are living in is detrimental to the overall effect. This movie leaves a dissatisfying taste in your mouth almost like they had another hour to go and just ran out of freakin money. On top of all this, we don’t get an even remote explanation of what happened. I had similar frustrations with THE VAST OF NIGHT which kind of made “leave your audiences disappointed” a theme of 2020 films. 

SAVE YOURSELVES! Is not without its merits. John Reynolds dry comedic timing works and Sunita Mani is fun in this role delivering a solid performance. Both characters are full of life, and trying to figure it out, making the actual story here not only worthwhile but increasingly interesting as it moves along. This is part of why the ending is so freaking frustrating. The title should have also been “INVASION OF THE POUFFES” and not the lame name it was given. 

Effects and cinematically, there is little magic to be had here, but the scenery is wonderful and the dialog is well written. Overall this leaves me in the middle of the road. I typically like to watch a movie and say “wow”…not “what the crap”. This is a “what the crap” situation but they gave me fur-ball aliens and mostly good dialog, so they are landing at a 4 out of 7.
 

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF KESHET STUDIOS AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY. 

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