Save Yourselves!

Save Yourselves! 2020

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Plot Summary

Discover the intricate plot of Save Yourselves! (2020). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.


A prologue reveals that this marks the year when Earth was lost. In a bid to escape their internet-obsessed and superficial lives in Brooklyn, a Millennial couple, “Su” (played by Sunita Mani) and “Jack” (portrayed by John Reynolds), decide to unplug for a weekend at a friend’s cabin in the woods. As they drive away, strange objects begin to fall from the sky.

Once at the cabin, the couple attempts to reconnect, discussing various aspirations to “become better people,” from baking bread to adopting a vegetarian lifestyle or even starting a community garden. Jack’s attention is caught by a peculiar fuzzy object resembling an ottoman in the den. Curious, he asks Su if it was there upon their arrival; however, she dismisses his inquiry and urges him to partake in exercises she found online to help boost their motivation as a couple. This frustrates Jack, leading to an argument where he angrily exits to chop wood. Upset, Su secretly turns on her phone to listen to a series of strange voice mails from her mother concerning “giant rats” that consume ethanol and are overrunning New York. Just as she starts to delve deeper into the voicemails, Jack returns, prompting Su to quickly switch off her phone.

In a moment of vulnerability, Jack confesses to Su that he feels inadequate as an adult but is determined for them to become closer. They reconcile, only to discover the next morning that their sourdough starter and whiskey bottles have mysteriously emptied, and the fuzzy object they nicknamed “pouffe” has inexplicably shifted positions. Realizing both the starter and whiskey contain ethanol, Su recalls her mother’s ominous messages and admits to breaking their no-phone agreement, speculating that the voicemails might tie into the strange events. They retreat upstairs and turn on their phones to learn the disturbing news: the pouffes are alien invaders attacking New York, igniting a mass evacuation while they feast upon ethanol.

When they try to confront the pouffe, it escapes using its long, projectile proboscis. Stunned at the turn of events, the couple finds that their phones have lost signal, prompting them to devise an escape plan back to the city in their car, hoping to regain signal and gather more information about the alien threat. Upon reaching their vehicle, they discover that the pouffes have punctured the gas tank to consume the ethanol-based fuel. Left with no choice, they resort to using the farm’s gasoline-tank car, although they struggle with the manual transmission.

As they navigate through the woods, they witness a stranded couple meeting a grisly fate at the hands of a pouffe. They manage to distract the creature by tossing a bottle of wine off the road. To their shock, they find a baby left behind in the stranded car. Despite the danger, they cannot leave the infant behind, but just as they gather the baby, a woman emerges from the woods, holding them at gunpoint, and steals their vehicle, leaving them stranded.

With limited options, Su and Jack gather supplies from the abandoned car and trek into the woods. Su becomes despondent, worrying about her family and the couple’s lack of survival skills as they confront an alien invasion. They come upon a pouffe, and in an act of selflessness, Jack shields Su from the creature as it attacks him. The creature’s proboscis gets stuck in the baby harness Jack wears. Summoning her courage, Su uses a knife to sever the proboscis, killing the alien creature. Jack discovers that he remains unharmed due to his cell phone acting as a makeshift shield.

Moved by their mutual willingness to protect one another, Su and Jack ascend to a lookout point with the baby, feeling a deeper sense of maturity and connection than when they first arrived at the cabin. They commit to marrying each other and raising the baby in the woods, planning their next steps into adulthood.

Curiosity piqued, Su investigates a bizarre translucent structure growing from the ground; although it looks like a force field, Jack examines it as well. Suddenly, they realize their phones have inexplicably regained signal and excitedly check for updates. So engrossed in the online content, they fail to notice the force field has encased them in a bubble. As they become engulfed, the bubble ascends, transporting them upwards through the sky. As they rise beyond Earth’s atmosphere, they see other bubbles filled with people like them. Initially laughing, they wonder whether this means they have been saved, yet as they drift further into space, uncertainty fills their expressions.

Timeline

Track the key events of Save Yourselves! (2020) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.


Earth is Lost

The prologue sets the stage by revealing that Earth has been lost. This dramatic context establishes a sense of urgency and impending doom as the story unfolds.

2023

Couple Leaves Brooklyn

In a bid to escape their superficial lives in Brooklyn, Millennial couple Su and Jack decide to unplug for a weekend at a friend's cabin in the woods. Their plan is to disconnect from technology and reconnect with each other.

Brooklyn

Strange Objects Fall from the Sky

As Su and Jack drive away from Brooklyn, they start to notice strange objects falling from the sky. This peculiar event marks the beginning of the chaos that will soon envelop their weekend getaway.

Discussions at the Cabin

Upon arriving at the cabin, Su and Jack attempt to reconnect by discussing their aspirations for self-improvement, including baking bread and starting a community garden. This moment reveals their desire to grow individually and as a couple.

Cabin in the Woods

Conflict Over the Pouffe

Jack becomes intrigued by a fuzzy object in the den, which they affectionately name 'pouffe.' This leads to an argument as Jack's frustrations about their relationship surface, showcasing their struggle to communicate effectively.

Cabin

Su Listens to Strange Voicemails

Upset after their argument, Su secretly listens to eerie voicemails from her mother concerning giant rats overrunning New York. This unsettling information foreshadows the bizarre challenges they will soon face.

Mysterious Events Unfold

The next morning, Su and Jack find their sourdough starter and whiskey mysteriously emptied, and the pouffe has moved locations. These bizarre occurrences create an atmosphere of confusion and fear about what might be happening.

Cabin

The Pouffes Are Alien Invaders

After turning on their phones, they learn that the pouffes are actually alien invaders attacking New York. This shocking revelation propels the couple into a desperate fight for survival as they realize the threat is closer than they thought.

Escape Plan

With signal loss on their phones, Su and Jack devise a plan to escape back to the city. They head toward their car, hopeful to regain signal and gather information about the escalating alien threat.

Woods

Finding the Stranded Couple

While navigating through the woods, Su and Jack witness a couple being attacked by a pouffe. This horrifying scene illustrates the dangers around them, forcing them to make tough decisions about survival.

Woods

Baby in the Stranded Car

Amidst the chaos, Su and Jack discover a baby left alone in a stranded car. Despite the imminent danger, they cannot abandon the infant and decide to rescue it, demonstrating their growing moral resolve.

Woods

Confrontation and Sacrifice

As they gather the baby, a mysterious woman appears, holds them at gunpoint, and steals their vehicle. This encounter intensifies their vulnerability and heightens the stakes of their escape.

Woods

Facing the Pouffe

In a selfless act, Jack shields Su from the attacking pouffe, but gets entangled in its proboscis. Su bravely takes action, severing the alien's appendage to save Jack, showcasing their growth as individuals and as a couple.

Woods

Self-Discovery and Commitment

Having survived their ordeal with the pouffe, Su and Jack find a lookout point and reflect on their experiences. They emerge more mature and connected, choosing to commit to each other and raise the baby they rescued.

Lookout Point

Enclosed in the Bubble

As they explore a strange translucent structure, they get ensnared in a bubble that transports them away. Rising through the sky into space presents a surreal and uncertain fate, leaving them questioning their next steps.

Characters

Meet the characters that bring Save Yourselves! (2020) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.


Su (Sunita Mani)

Su is depicted as the more driven partner in the relationship, determined to improve their lives. Her vulnerability is highlighted as she grapples with fear for her family and a desire for a deeper connection with Jack amidst chaos.

👩‍❤️‍👨 Relationship 🌱 Growth 📱 Technology

Jack (John Reynolds)

Jack embodies relatable insecurities, feeling inadequate as an adult while simultaneously trying to support Su. His character evolves as he faces the alien threat, revealing his selflessness and ultimately acting as a protector.

🤵 Maturity 🌳 Nature 🛡️ Protection

Setting

Uncover the settings of Save Yourselves! (2020), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.


Time period

Near Future

The story unfolds in a near-future world grappling with consequences of technology and alien presence on Earth. This period reflects societal shifts as people seek authenticity while facing unprecedented existential threats.

Location

Brooklyn, Cabin in the Woods

Brooklyn serves as the bustling urban backdrop where the couple seeks to escape their technology-driven lifestyle. The cabin in the woods symbolizes a retreat into nature, promoting introspection and reconnecting with one another away from the chaos of city life.

🏙️ City 🌲 Nature

Themes

Explore the core themes of Save Yourselves! (2020). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.


👾

Alien Invasion

The film presents the shocking concept of an alien invasion disguised as absurdity. The pouffes, alien creatures feeding on ethanol, serve as both a humorous and frightening threat, symbolizing deeper anxieties about technology overreach and environmental issues.

❤️

Connection

At the core of the narrative is the theme of connection, particularly how Su and Jack's relationship evolves. Their journey forces them to confront their insecurities and prioritize each other, ultimately uniting them in the midst of chaos and danger.

🌌

Existential Exploration

The film delves into existential questions as the couple faces life-threatening situations. Their experiences challenge them to reevaluate their priorities and aspirations while navigating a world where their existence is threatened by extraterrestrial forces.

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