Save Yourselves!

It was a fun little movie that was clearly made on a limited budget that leaves things to the audience to decide.

This is minimalistic and micro budgeted film that doesn't take itself too seriously. The plot includes a typical millennial couple going on a retreat with no internet. So they don't know that the Earth is attacked by fluffy killer aliens.

This movie has some pacing issues in first act, but then fun begins until the end. The end is left ambiguous enough which might put off some viewers but makes sense at the same time. There is not much into the story per se, but the small touches with dialogs and situations keeps it interesting. It doesn't try to reinvent the genre and plays safe, but the leads Su and Jack handle it too charmingly to be too noticeable. If you are looking for a minimalistic movie with loads of fun, this is it.

"Save Yourselves!" (2020 release; 93 min.) brings the story of John and Sue, a couple in Brooklyn. As the movie opens, they are bickering about computer and smart phone time. After attending a party where a friend offers his renovated updated cabin for free for a week, John and Sue eagerly take up the offer, and furthermore, they decide to disconnect from their phones and computers... At this point we are 10 min. into the film but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this small-budget indie movie was written and directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, this being their feature length debut. The story is the umpteenth reimagination of what "the end of the world" might look like, but they bring it with an original twist that I will not give away. Watch the film and the title of my review will make all the sense in the world. Sunita Mani (as Sue) and John Reynolds (as Jack), best known for their respective TV work, are enjoyable in the lead roles. They are in just about every frame of the film, and for long stretches it's just them. This film is billed as a scifi comedy, and I suppose it is. But I must be honest: rarely laughed (and certainly not out loud). The film lacks gravitas to be taken seriously, but it also lacks truly funny moments to work as a comedy. Instead what we get is an off-center indie film that is more quirky than anything else.

"Save Yourselves!" opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati, of course fully adhering to all COVID-19 social distancing and other protocols. Not that it matter much, as the Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended poorly: exactly 3 people (including myself) in the theater's largest room. I honestly don't know how this and other theaters can keep operating like this on a profitable basis. Meanwhile, if you have any interest in an atypical "end of the world" scifi comedy, I'd readily suggest you check this out , be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

REVIEW - SAVE YOURSELVES

Frustration!

When a film even a cheap independent film starts and starts well in a way you have to expect that due to budget there will be for example poor effects, creatures or aliens but honestly and surprisingly I found these to actually add to the charm of this film as it simply doesn't take its self too seriously, sorry I'm jumping ahead, let me start from the beginning.

A couple decide to go away and not look at their various devices for the entire week, no phone, no tablets, no laptop and just enjoy each others company.

While away earth gets invaded by what look like Tribbles, yes Star Trek fans a version of our favourite pest returns but this version kills people!

What do they do? what would you do?

I'm not sure if this film is listed as a comedy but a few times I did chuckle to myself so surprising enjoyed this except for the sheer waste of time ending, what happened, you actually get hooked, start enjoying and actually sit on the edge of your seat at what happens at the end and then nothing?

So yes enjoyable but....?

Rating 6 out of 10

Interesting concept with so some WOW moments combined with comedy this film worked well. If it had a larger budget it might have been really great. The ending is LIKE WHAT?