Suspense at a Heartbeat pace

 ALONE (2020)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

"Alone" is a chilling, unforgettable experiment in pure, realistic, unforgiving terror. It is so unforgiving that a consistent, almost human-like heartbeat plays throughout the soundtrack. The story of a woman in peril as she is chased by a killer is hardly news in the cinematic world, but its unrelenting tone and some eerie images give it more than a lift - it is one of the best thrillers of its kind in ages.

The film starts simply enough with a widow, Jessica (Jules Wilcox), who is moving away and driving to some undisclosed location with a small U-HAUL trailer. She leaves a house plant on the road and takes off from Portland, Oregon heading north. The film doesn't slow down for a second once we are introduced to a slow Jeep Cherokee driver on the road she passes. That is a big NO NO! This driver known as Man has a broken arm sling, later apologizes to her, and presumably takes off. However you can't keep a good Man down (pardon the pun) as he keeps running into her (it could almost qualify as a running gag but it is not done so repetitively). When Jessica breaks down on the road, the Man finds her, knocks her out and takes her to a very remote cabin. Just when I thought this would be a claustrophobic thriller and remain in that cabin location for the duration, "Alone" switches quickly to Jessica's wilderness survival mode with the killer on her tail. 

As aforementioned, there is nothing to distinguish "Alone" from several thousand other thrillers other than attitude, a breakneck pace and terrific performances. Credit Jules Wilcox for creating a thoroughly empathetic, strong, smart woman out of Jessica who can't get over the loss of her husband, especially when the killer keeps reminding her of his death - that is her Achilles Heel and he knows it. Marc Menchaca as the Man is, at first glance, a common, friendly, apologetic type of guy and yet his demeanor, though false, gets to you - how can someone like this look normal and perpetrate such willful violence? No motivation is ever given and none is needed. 

Director John Hyams (a journeyman TV director and son of a good director, Peter Hyams) utilizes camera movement and placement where we expect it from a thriller (some overhead shots of the woods shows how nature dwarves us), and yet it all still works on your nerves because of the forceful nature of the actors. There are some scenes that may scream implausibility but I went along with it - they all amp up the terror. "Alone is a tightly controlled, whip-paced thriller that I only wished allowed for a little psychological impact as well. No matter - a shot of a bloodshot Jessica behind a door in one heart-pounding scene and the shot of her vivid, penetrating eyes as she stares at her killer in one crucial moment will keep you awake at night. "Alone" is a first-class ride into suspense nirvana.