No One Lives - Blu-Ray

Content: Young Betty (Laura Ramsey) is on her way to their new home together with her unnamed companion (Luke Evans). When they stop at a small inn in the middle of nowhere, they clash with the gang led by hoodlum Hoag (Lee Tergesen). There's been a tense atmosphere in the group since a bloody incident during a robbery spree, and now it threatens to explode. But at first it looks like Betty and her friend will be able to escape the dicey situation. But then the hothead Flynn (Derek Magyar) decides to rob the couple. Together with the hunky Ethan (Brodus Clay) he overpowers the two and tries to torture data like the PIN number of the credit card out of the man. But suddenly the tide turns. For in the trunk of the couple's car, the gangsters find a kidnapped young woman (Adelaide Clemens) who is in total panic before him, assuring her criminal captors that none of them will survive a confrontation with him. And soon a bloody massacre begins, from which even the gangsters, armed to the teeth and outnumbered, seem unable to escape...

After the very successful Clive Baker adaptation The Midnight Meat Train, Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura presents with No One Lives again an extremely exciting, brutal and atmospheric horror thriller, which in addition to quite bloody splatter interludes also has a really exciting story to offer, which is carried by quite convincing actors. Especially Luke Evans (The Hobbit - Smaugs Einöde) delivers an almost frighteningly good performance as an ice-cold and very resourceful killer, which carries the film even over its somewhat lengthy moments.

After the story begins rather ordinary for the horror genre (young couple falls into the hands of sadistic hillbillies), the whole thing takes an interesting as well as effective turn. After that the big surprises are missing, but Kitamura manages very well to keep the viewer entertained. Although it is quite predictable for genre connoisseurs who will be the next to perish in the constant crook reduction, the action always remains on a pleasantly high level due to the gripping atmosphere, an engaging camerawork and a dense staging.

When the nameless killer strikes, it often has very bloody consequences. Unfortunately, these were too bloody for the FSK, which is why the scissors had to be applied here and there for the German version. The only positive thing about this is that it was mostly done so well that the cuts are hardly noticeable. Only in two places is it exceedingly obvious that something is missing here. Unfortunately, the final scene in particular suffers from this, which takes away a bit of the intensity of this final sequence. Still, if you don't have the opportunity to get the uncut version from Austria, you might as well go for this one. Because even if cuts are generally annoying, No One Lives has not been mutilated so excessively that the film would no longer be fun to watch.

Because no matter if with a few bloody scenes more or less, Ryuhei Kitamura's latest foray into the horror genre has become an extremely exciting work, for which there is in any case an absolutely worth seeing!

Picture + Sound: The image of the Blu-Ray convinces with an atmospheric color scheme, harmonious contrasts and a successful image sharpness. This ensures, especially in the brighter moments, that even the smallest details are well accentuated. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix offers some decent surround moments that are mixed with similar power as the more directional dialogue. Good!

Extras: In addition to the trailer and some uncommented B-roll footage (approx. 6:09 min.), the Blu-ray has twelve promo interviews with cast and creators to offer.

Conclusion: No One Lives is a gripping thriller that still has a very intense impact even in its slightly toned down version. Director Ryuhei Kitamura manages very well to combine bloody splatter interludes with a thrilling story to a rousing genre work, in which the main actor Luke Evans may show his particularly diabolical side. The film presents itself on the German Blu-Ray in a version shortened by just under two minutes, whereby the cuts are only really noticeable in two places. The audiovisual realization, however, convinces all along the line. Fans of atmospheric horror thrillers who can live with a few small cuts should not miss this work. Recommendable

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp