No One Lives

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No One Lives
Starring Luke Evans, Adelaide Clemens, Lee Tergesen, Derek Magyar
Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura

Young heiress Emma (Adelaide Clemens) is kidnapped, and a young couple (Luke Evans and Laura Ramsey) are moving on from their old town to start a new life.  Meanwhile, Hoag (Lee Tergesen) and his team of lowlife thugs are robbing a wealthy family's home, and an error caused by Flynn (Derek Magyar) results in the deaths of the family, and he incurs Hoag's wrath.

To get back on Hoag's good graces, Flynn decides to kidnap the young couple, thinking they're wealthy, in hopes of bringing in a big haul.  What he gets, however, is far more deadly than he - or anyone else - would expect.

While on the outside it seems that "No One Lives" is another kidnapping torture movie, director Kitamura turns it on its head and asks a question that's rarely asked in torture porn cinema - what would happen if a bunch of low-life criminals unknowingly kidnap a high-profile serial killer?  Well, the answer seems to be a whole bunch of blood, gore, guts and torture.

Although the story has a lot to be desired, the film boasts a surprising amount of talent, especially with Luke Evans, who commands the screen as someone who, at first sight, seems your typical person, but under the shell he's a cold blooded, calculated, intelligent psychopath who you end up rooting for.  No one is innocent, everyone runs, everyone hides, and no one lives.

My Rating: B+

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