Director: John Hyams
Writer: Mattias Olsson
Stars: Jules Willcox, Marc Menchaca, Anthony Heald
‘Alone’ wastes little time delving into the suspenseful storyline, as the film’s opening section begins with a vehicular cat-and-mouse game between Jessica (Jules Willcox) and the driver of a black Jeep, who seems to be deliberately messing with her. Jessica’s nerves are already on edge, since, as we eventually learn, she’s left the big city and hit the road after the recent death of her husband.
The encounter proves intense enough, but the male driver (Marc Menchaca), shows up again in a parking lot and makes an awkward attempt at an apology. The fact that he looks entirely unassuming, and persistent, only makes Jessica more suspicious. So when she encounters him a third time, this time on the road with his car supposedly broken-down and his arm in a sling, she turns down his request for assistance. But he eventually manages to overpower and drug her at an unexpected moment, and she wakes up to find herself a prisoner in his basement.
This is when the dangerous game begins, as Jessica must not only find a way out, but also survive. ‘Alone’ is divided into five chapters whose titles could serve both literally and figuratively, “Alone” (a remake of a 2011 Swedish thriller) counters its unoriginal plotting with reminders that Jessica’s agony stems from more than her immediate ordeal.
For fans of the thriller genre there is little that goes on that will greatly surprise. But ‘Alone’ is surprisingly effective nonetheless. The screenplay by Mattias Olsson (who scripted and co-directed the original film) is sleek and to the point, not breaking up its momentum with distracting subplots or excessive background information. And director Hyams, delivers the action in clear fashion, maintaining a measured pace and avoiding excessive stylistic flourishes.
A huge honorable mention has to go to Jules Willcox, who manages to command the viewers attention, all while powerfully conveying her character’s complex mixture of fear and fortitude. ‘Alone’ is out now.