Alone
review by Bobby Blakey
Anytime a story deals with stalking or kidnapping you not only bring the potential of an intense story, but also a real life terror from something that actually happens. The latest to tackle the idea is the film Alone starring Jules Willcox, Marc Menchaca and Anthony Heald but does it bring that intensity needed for this type of film to work or will it fail to be taken?
Alone follows Jessica, a grief-stricken widow who flees the city in an attempt to cope with the loss of her husband. When Jessica is kidnapped by a mysterious man and locked in a cabin in the Pacific Northwest, she escapes into the wilderness and is pursued by her captor.
I didn’t watch any of the trailers for this but with the title and synopsis it was pretty clear where it was going. The set-up is pretty obvious with a series of events that lead to the actual horrors she will face. Unlike a lot of these films most of her actions are actually pretty well executed, but of course with these movies there is always something that goes wrong and turns into a trail of survival and terror that works well.
The film turns from a kidnapping situation to a survival and revenge flick just like I was hoping for. Jules Willcox does a great job here bringing all the emotional and physical aspects to make this victim turned fighter work. Opposing her is Marc Menchaca as her tormentor who is so good here. He brings a subtle creepy calm to the part that makes you wonder just what his real intentions are. His overall look, tone and delivery fully brought the character to sleazy insane life to perfection.
There are some great moments here that bring the tension and excitement without ever feeling overly forced like a lot of these films tend to do. I really
enjoyed it from beginning to end and loved the final shot. It really showcases the finality of it all and a simplicity that delivers so much. There isn’t a ton that hasn’t been seen before but they have managed to craft a film that still feels fresh and new.
In addition to the film it also includes a featurette that takes you behind bringing this thriller to life. Hit the road and grab your copy of Alone available now on Blu-ray, DVD, and On-Demand from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet Label.