Disclaimer: I had originally written this review last year for another website as pat of its coverage of the virtual Fantasia 2020 film festival, hence why I mention it in my opening line. Since then it appears to have went the DTV route hence why it's in this category.
Premiering at Fantasia 2020, Alone (2020) is that rare thing, a remake that improves on the original. The first version was made back in 2011 as Gone . The Swedish thriller squanders an initially good set up, allowing it to dissolve into a series of cliché’s and illogical character moments.
While Alone is in no way a perfect film, it is for the most part a tense and taut thriller, bolstered by two excellent lead performances from Jules Willcox and Marc Menchaca.
While moving home after a personal tragedy, Jessica (Jules Wilcox) comes into contact with a fellow driver (Marc Menchaca) on the road. After a bit of road rage, Jessica decides to settle down for the night at a motel, only to see the driver’s car passing. The next morning the driver introduces himself to Jessica and apologises for what happened between them earlier.
Jessica is clearly uneasy around him but is able to move on. As she continues her travels she continues to come into contact with him with her getting increasingly paranoid. She is right to as she eventually finds herself being kidnapped. It turns out the driver is a deranged killer who plans to keep Jessica prisoner. Unfortunately for him, Jessica manages to escape his clutches but she will not only have to fight against her pursuer but also the deadly environment.
I first became aware of director John Hyams with his work on Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009). I must say I wasn't expecting much from the third entry of an already dwindling action series. Much to my surprise it turned out to be one of the best action films of the year.
He followed this up with martial arts actioner Dragon Eyes (2012) before going on to helm Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012), which was even better than his last entry in the series. Moving the franchise in an altogether direction, this part of the series showed Hyams at the top of his game, fusing a straightforward DTV actioner with the likes of Apocalypse Now (1979).
If it was a fair industry, his work on both of these should have shot him to the big leagues. However, since then he has mostly worked in television, with a brief return to film with the drama All Square (2018), although this wasn't exactly the type of film I was expecting from him.
TV work has at least given him a chance to hone his craft, directing episodes on the likes of Z Nation (2014), Chicago P.D. (2014) and most importantly Black Summer (2019) which he co-created and worked as showrunner. Hyams work on Black Summer is particularly well done, turning what is essentially another The Walking Dead re-run into something more memorable.
There has been talk that he has been developing a remake of William Lustig's Maniac Cop (1988), with Nicolas Winding Refn on board as producer. These talks seem to have been going on for years, with it recently been announced by Refn that it will now be made as a limited TV series.
At least Alone Mark's a return to film for Hyams. While fans of his Universal Soldier films may be disappointed that he hasn't made a full on action film, Hyams still gets ample chance to show off his craft behind the camera with him successfully amping up the tension as Wilcox’s character is put through her ordeal.
He even manages to slot in a couple of brutal one on one confrontation’s between Wilcox and Menchaca that shows he hasn't lost his knack for violent carnage. The best of these takes place in the confines of Menchacha’s moving car where Wilcox brutally fights for her life.
Setting Hyams film apart from other similar woman in peril films is how he approaches the story. Amazingly the script is from the same writer as the original, Mattias Olsson, although there is enough to differentiate with what came before.
The plot is broken into chapters, with a title card introducing each of them. Titles like The River and The Rain give you an idea of what situation Wilcox might find herself in next.
As the film begins we aren't given the full story behind why Jessica is moving or why she is ignoring phone calls from her mother. There is very little dialogue during the opening of the film, with the audience getting to know more about our lead from her actions and mannerisms.
It reminded me slightly of the work of Walter Hill, where he would pare the dialogue back to the barest minimum. Only later when she comes into contact with Manchacha’s murderer do we get a picture of Wilcox’s background, but by this point we have passed the halfway mark.
Of course, there are the odd cliché’s we have come to expect from the genre. Both characters take more punishment than would be humanly possible. At one point Menchacha shrugs of getting hit in the head with a tyre iron. Twice. Still, this in no way should impair your enjoyment.
The excellent cinematography from Federico Verardi and the use of the beautiful scenery are also stand outs. One particularly impressive sequence has Menchacha stalking Wilcox at night, with only his high powered torch lighting the scene. This adds to the overall tension Hyams has created, with the lack of light adding to both the characters and the audiences fear.
The whole movie is basically a two hander between Wilcox & Menchacha, with the only other performance being a minor role from Anthony Heald.
Wilcox captures the attention from the get go. With sparse use of dialogue and no other actor to work of off for great periods of time, she is mesmerising with her fear, pain and determination shining through. Her character is certainly put through the wringer, being beaten, shot at and almost drowned, but as the film builds to its climax we are shown that she is willing to do what it takes to survive.
Menchacha’s killer is a particularly creepy creation. Even from his initial friendly introduction, something just feels off about him. Perhaps it’s his use of a sling and a broken arm, an old trick of serial killer Ted Bundy, but its instantly clear he is not to be trusted.
Menchacha had already impressed me earlier in the year with his role in The Outsider (2020), which like Alone featured him in a villainous role. While he has been working in the industry for years, it looks like this could be a standout year for him. The same is true for Wilcox, where the quality of her performance should hopefully lead to higher profile work in the future.
As mentioned, Alone isn’t exactly a game changer but with its tight pace, noteworthy performances and Hyams solid work behind the camera makes it stand out from similar women in peril thrillers.
Rating 3/5
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