What to Watch This Weekend: In The Heights, Third Murder, Getting To Know You, Chasing Comets, The Racer, Wish Dragon, Alone, Amusement Park

For Bright Musical Celebration of Life: In The Heights (Theaters and HBO Max)
In The Heights is a celebration of life, love, family, community, and hard work with a bright, colorful style and catchy and impactful music.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Tense Legal Drama: The Third Murder (Film Movement Plus)

The Third Murder is a gripping legal drama with Oscar-worthy acting, a complex, realistic story, and a beautiful soundtrack.   For more information, check out the review!

For An Unearthed Unsettling Classic: The Amusement Park (Shudder)

The Amusement Park uses horror to tell an interesting story with a deeper message, one that is sadly still relevant even after half a century since the film's completion.  For more information, check out the review! 

For An Unconventional Sports Drama: Chasing Comets (Digital)

Chasing Comets has a positive overall message, good rugby camaraderie, and a measured faith-based message that feels genuine and never preachy.  For more information, check out the review!

For the Sports Enthusiast: The Racer (TubiTV)

The Racer tells an honest sports story, with inspirational moments, plenty of interesting insights into conflicted athletes, and a story that paces itself nicely before a photo finish.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Kids: Wish Dragon (Netflix)
An Asian Aladdin, Sony Pictures animated film hits Netflix with plenty of beautiful animation, heart, and an Asian flair!

For A More Adult, Realistic Romantic Comedy: Getting To Know You (Amazon Prime)

One of my favorite films of last year, Getting To Know You is a wonderful, understated drama / comedy featuring two fantastic leads with amazing chemistry and a realistic, decidedly more adult story about love and life.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Horror Fans: Alone (Hulu)

Alone is a tense survival horror film with great performances by Willcox and Menchaca, a slow burning story, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen next.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: Psycho Goreman, You Will Die At Twenty, Synchronic, Alone, Like a Boss, I Used to Go Here, Cut Throat City, How to Train Your Dragon

For A Throwback Bloody Good Time: Psycho Goreman (Digital)
Psycho Goreman is an entertaining throwback to 80s and 90s shows, with an exaggerated style, intentionally noticeable costumes, and fights that definitely earn the "gore" in Goreman!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Powerful Oscar Contender: You Will Die At Twenty (Virtual Cinema)
You Will Die At Twenty is a powerful piece of cinema with some expert cinematography and a story that highlights religion, fate, and life.  For more information, check out the review!

For Genre and Time Bending Sci Fi Film: Synchronic (Digital, Redbox)

Synchronic takes you on a mind-bending time travel trip with a dark, gritty style, fantastic performances by Mackie and Dornan, and a powerful score.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Horror Fans: Alone (Digital)

Alone is a tense survival horror film with great performances by Willcox and Menchaca, a slow burning story, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen next.  For more information, check out the review!

For Those Missing Their Bestie: Like A Boss (Amazon)

Like a Boss has charismatic leading ladies, who form a strong foundation for both the funny and dramatic parts of this friendship comedy.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Blast From The Past Drama: I Used to Go Here (HBO)

I Used To Go Here is a wonderfully personal story, with an emotional performance by Gillian Jacobs, a quirky, funny cast, and a heartfelt message about life and success.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Fan of Thrillers and Tension: Cut Throat City (Netflix)

Cut Throat City has a lot more going on than meets the eye, from its complex characters, to its involved story, and wonderful dialogue, this film steals the spotlight.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Kids: How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Hulu)

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a beautifully animated movie that continues and concludes the story from the first two films.  It is fun to watch, despite its less than stellar story, and provides a fitting end to this high flying trilogy.  For more information, check out our review!

Alone Review: A Tense and Creepy Thriller

Release date: September 18, 2020
Running time: 98 minutes
Starring: Jules Willcox, Marc Menchaca, Anthony Heald 
Director: John Hyams
Writer: Mattias Olsson

A recently widowed traveler is kidnapped by a cold blooded killer, only to escape into the wilderness where she is forced to battle against the elements as her pursuer closes in on her.

Alone has a slow, methodical start that introduces you to Jessica (Willcox) and her predicament.  It doesn't reveal a lot, but shows her packing for a new life and slowly leaving the city.  And this seems intentional as it ratchets up the tension as she makes her way out of the city and onto the back roads.  And when we are introduced to the man (Menchaca), it is so innocuous and off putting that you can't help but feel creeped out.  But the thing that Alone does so well is it makes you wait for the inevitable.  There are several encounters initially that seem both normal and creepy, causing you to slowly tense for the inevitable.  And this is brought to life by both Willcox and Menchaca.  Willcox is believable as a solo traveler trying to move to a better life, and Menchaca is great as a quiet, boring person with just something off.  He looks so normal yet has a sinister aspect to him that is tough to describe but perfectly creepy on screen.  And the film reveals little pieces about both of their lives as it progresses, slowly introducing more and more to the viewer.  

And when the film gets going, it keeps the tension going.  There are some very tough to watch parts that will have you holding your breath as you wonder what will happen next.  Will he get her, will she be able to hold on?  And the film's camera work deliberately makes you think that something will happen, keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time.  And when there is action or violence in the film, it is portrayed frankly and brutally.  There are some tough scenes to watch, but they do a good job of framing the overall conflict and the stakes.  Sure, some of what is survivable seems a bit extreme, but it is nothing out of the ordinary for the horror genre.  Finally, this movie will make you tense and jump at every sound due to the good sound design.  The sounds of the forest, random branches breaking, and predators stalking prey are quite well done and will keep you on edge throughout.

Alone is a tense survival horror film with great performances by Willcox and Menchaca, a slow burning story, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen next.

 

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