Alone

Join us after the screening at 8:40pm for a live Q&A with Director John Hyams, Writer Mattias Olsson, Producer Henrik JP Åkesson, Producer Jonathan Rosenthal, Actors Jules Willcox, Marc Menchaca and Cinematographer Federico Verardi

Jessica (Jules Wilcox) drives on a long, lonely stretch of road in the Pacific Northwest. Attempting to rebound from a tragic loss, she's packed up her belongings and is headed back to her hometown to restart her life. Also on this stretch of road is a Man (Marc Menchaca) who, at first, seems harmless enough, but keeps showing up in the same places as Jessica. But it's no coincidence. The Man has hostile plans for her, and once in his clutches she has to fight her way out to safety somewhere in the Oregon wilderness, away from civilization, away from any help and away from the devious psychotic out to destroy her. She will have to face this in the cold and rain while injured. She will have to face this knowing that it will put anyone who helps her in harm’s way. She will have to face this not knowing why The Man chose her. She will have to face this while her life is already in pieces. She will have to face this and all of her fears at once. And she'll have to face it all alone.

Welcome back, John Hyams. Many of us have been patiently waiting for when the director 2012's now-classic (yes, it is) UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING would get back to big-screen action and suspense. ALONE returns Hyams (son of Peter) to what he does so well with a tightly wound and often knuckle-wringingly good thriller that satisfies big time. Aided immeasurably by the excellent performances from Wilcox and Menchaca and cinematographer Federico Verardi, Hyams (who also co-edited) creates grounded and realistic suspense throughout. One hopes that ALONE will make an impression to take John Hyams to the big leagues where he belongs. – Matthew Kiernan