A woman alone in her apartment preparing for a romantic evening with her girlfriend turns into a horrifying nightmare in Emily Bennett and Justin Brooks’ horror film, Alone With You.
When the film begins, it seems like Charlie (Emily Bennet) and Simone (Emma Myles) have a perfect life together. As creative professionals, their apartment is tastefully decorated and seemingly brimming with romance. But flashbacks and phone conversations Charlie has with her friend and mother begin to expose threads of bitterness, infidelity, and unfulfillment, in both their relationship and Charlie’s psyche. As the evening progresses, unsettling forces take hold of the story and Charlie becomes trapped in an eternal night in her apartment.
In addition to writer and director credits, Emily Bennett delivers an interesting and layered performance as Charlie. She is able to able to convey emotions like confusion, infatuation, and annoyance in a way that is just as compelling as the grandiose terror at the end of the film. As well as Charlie, Alone With You does a good job of establishing the character of the apartment. Initially, the apartment seems like a cozy environment, lit by the warm lights of lamps and candles. The audience is eased by the inviting colors of a blue leather couch and the jam-like colors of abundant red wine and an exposed brick wall. Taking time to establish the look and layout of the apartment pays off as the film becomes more disturbing and these cozy elements begin to seem more sinister.
Alone With You shines in moments of uncertainty, when a mysterious event could be supernatural, or have a rational explanation. These events build on each other and create tension. As Charlie attempts to seek help, her interactions via phone call and video chat go from unhelpful to disturbing. Elements like a neighbor crying through a vent and a stuck front door seem explainable at first before becoming completely horrific.
The film could have been improved by trusting its audience in these crucial ambiguous scenes. Some shots would become more impactful by allowing the audience to discover shadows moving in the background or photographs moving for themselves, without the aid of typical horror sound cues.
Alone with You keeps audiences guessing whether the antagonistic force behind the terror of the film is supernatural, sadistic, or psychological. And the answers to this question can be up to the viewer’s interpretation. Although not everything is not resolved by the end of the film, Alone with You’s use of setting, performances, and disturbing visuals make it a captivating mystery to ponder.
What kind of film series would this narrative film fit in?
The creative use of a small cast and isolated space would make this film a great selection for a series of films that were made using limited resources, or under COVID-19 restrictions.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Alone With You would be ideal for any film collection of female-led horror movies.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
This film could be useful for sociology classes exploring infidelity in relationships or the way relationships affect mental health.