Charlie (Emily Bennett, who also co-wrote and directed this picture along with Justin Brooks) is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her paramour, photographer Simone (Emma Myles) to their Brooklyn apartment after an extended absence.
As she awaits, Charlie wanders the apartment, alone, for extended periods of oddly indeterminable time. As the hands of the clock pass, our heroine passes the time via video messaging with her party hardy friend, as well as arguing with her bible-nut mother (Re-animator and From Beyond‘s Barbara Crampton) over the sinfulness of her lifestyle choices (also on computer screen… it’s apparent from the beginning that this film is both Covid-19 metaphor in some respects, as well as being filmed during the pandemic).
Of course, this being a fright flick of sorts, Charlie also begins having blood drenched hallucinations and hearing strange voices and screaming coming from the vents… how does this relate to our protagonists’ mental health, and can she piece together why these events are occurring?
As mentioned previously, Alone With You is a product of it’s troubled times, and the result of that in form and function may result in your mileage varying with this picture.
For one thing, the picture quality of the film varies from both truly beautiful, to amateurish, and back again. Sure it’s intentional, but it can be jarring at times… and of course the brunt of the actors never appear together in the same environment which is both disorienting, and noticeable, but also greatly enhances the feeling of isolation Charlie (and through her, we) feels. You take the good you take the bad, you take ’em both and there you have… well, a visually uneven, but intriguing film.
Also fascinating are the Gothic thriller tropes on display, with the ethereal Charlie wandering the confines of her apartment, lost in thoughts of dark secrets, blood, and ghosts (via the sheet-covered mannequins in her apartment) all while sanity slips away. It’s an effective transplant of beloved tropes into a modern setting, and sets a great atmosphere.
Less effective is the film’s conclusion that doesn’t quite stick the landing, but nevertheless the overall journey was one worth taking if for the aforementioned Gothic goodness, as well as Bennett and Brooks’ ability to weave a fever-dream, ambiguous narrative alone.
If you dig what you see with Alone With You, this DVD release from Darkstar Pictures contains further exploration of the film’s themes and production via special features that include: an audio commentary with Bennett and Brooks, interviews with the same along with Crampton and Myles, deleted scenes, a blooper reel, a photo gallery, and the film’s trailer.
Bottom line; Alone With You is a Neo-Gothic pandemic-influenced horror thriller that has some rough edges, but nevertheless absorbs you into it’s outré mystery.
