He Knows You're Alone (1980)

A young bride-to-be is being stalked upon by a serial killer in Staten Island. She gets help from a former lover, but will they manage to escape?

Director:

Armand Mastroianni

Writer:

Scott Parker

Stars:

Don Scardino, Caitlin O'Heaney, Elizabeth Kemp

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Scardino	...	Marvin
Caitlin O'Heaney	...	Amy Jensen
Elizabeth Kemp	...	Nancy
Tom Rolfing	...	Ray Carlton (the killer)
Lewis Arlt	...	Det. Len Gamble
Patsy Pease	...	Joyce
James Rebhorn	...	Prof. Carl Mason
Tom Hanks	...	Elliot
Dana Barron	...	Diana
Joseph Leon	...	Ralph the Tailor
Paul Gleason	...	Det. Frank Daley
James Carroll	...	Phil
Brian Byers	...	Bernie
Curt Hostetter	...	Tommy
Robin Lamont	...	Ruthie

Storyline

A reluctant bride to be is stalked by a serial killer who only kills brides and the people around them. While her friends get whacked one by one, a hard boiled renegade cop whose bride had been killed years before tries to hunt him down before it is too late. Meanwhile, the bride has to figure out if it is all in her imagination or not, aided by her ex-boyfriend...

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | slasher | low budget film | man murders a woman | stabbing a woman | 

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Taglines:

Every girl is frightened the night before her wedding, but this time... there's good reason!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the DVD commentary, director Armand Mastroianni said that horror fans frequently confuse this film with When A Stranger Calls (1979), because of their similarly threatening titles. Mastroianni also said coincidentally, 'He Knows You're Alone' and 'When A Stranger Calls' were both playing at a New York City theater at the same time. He said that the theater marquee read 'When A Stranger Calls He Knows You're Alone' as if it was all one big movie title.

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Goofs

When Amy and Nancy are sitting on the couch talking and drinking wine, Nancy pours wine into Amy's glass almost filling it. The amount of wine in the glass then varies between shots.

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Quotes

Father McKenna: I know a lot of people who have been married for years and they are still having second thoughts.
Amy: That's encouraging.
Father McKenna: But they should have never been married to begin with. They just made bad decisions and picked incompatible mates.
Amy: You trying to tell me something, Father?
Father McKenna: Me? No. I don't meddle. I just want you to be sure.

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Box: A Christmas Story (2010)

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Soundtracks

I'll Never Tie You Down
Words by Jeanne Napoli, deBorge Roggeman
Music by Alexander Peskanov and Mark Peskanov
Sung by Jeanne Napoli
© 1980 by Songs of Bandler-Koppelman, Inc., Windward Music and Viv Enterprises, Ltd., Zorro Music Division

User Reviews

Relatively good slasher film

I found this little slasher film to be better than many of its early 80s counterparts, mainly because there is more character development here than is customary for this genre. The director shows an almost humanistic touch in the dialogue scenes, and the two basic characters are very likable. On the other hand, hardcore horror fans are likely to be disappointed with this, because as a straight "slasher" it's a watered-down, virtually goreless piece of filmmaking! In any case, check it out. (**)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 August 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shriek

Filming Locations:

Something Sweet, 314 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$748,824, 1 September 1980

Gross USA:

$4,875,436

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,875,436

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1