You Won't Be Alone

"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be" - Grandma Moses

I'm sure the people who tuned in anticipating a medieval feature on witches were shocked to their very conscience. The first act might resonate with familiar feelings that of a horror-centric set-up. The second act on the other hand sponsored a sudden change of course and heart in the core direction as well as in its style of narrative.

To summarize, "You Won't Be Alone" is not your ordinary tale revolving around some den full of witches nor does it have to do anything with their origination, those characteristics are merely used as backdrops to a much larger objective at play. To put it mildly, the story speaks of possibilities, of choices, all from a perspective of a young woman who's just been given the invaluable opportunity to look into her surroundings and her life itself.

With her innocent, compassionate gazes, we can see the world, the people, and all that is around her through a much simpler lens. Reflecting the very foundation of life itself that is fraught with pain, suffering (here it is symbolized through the toxic patriarchy), and everyday hardships, which are fairly synonymous for all human beings, irrespective of their genders or their sexual identities.

Yet, amidst all these inconveniences, there are moments worth cherishing, and there is love worth fighting for, even after so many nasty experiences, we are still left with the people whom we can trust, whom we can spend our whole life with, in those particular facets lies the true significance of living, the unreal feeling of existing, the incredible feeling of being Alive.

And I strongly believe, that's what the film wants to convey. We often make things too complicated for ourselves, we more often than not make things much more difficult for us as well as for our loved ones. At those peak moments of disquietude, and hopelessness, we might wanna take a look from a different perspective, we might wanna bring back our inner child, which is long forbidden. Perhaps, that childlike innocence, that very naivety would help us in those dire circumstances, maybe that is what we need, that is what our situations call for.

Imagine what you'd do, living life without a clue, growing up inside a cave, a mother's one and only slave, until such time does come to pass, you're a fully grown up lass, but there's dust between your ears, years and years devoid of peers; then you're freed by an old maid, a sorceress has come to aid, taking you as an apprentice, the omens are truly portentous, she's a little overcooked, and her talons are quite hooked, quite a disaffected soul, you may well pay, a hefty toll.

Absolutely nothing to do with witchcraft or horror once you've peeled away the skin, but a magnificent and engaging exploration of the influences and effects that take their toll and shape your soul.

Witch movies haven't always been my favourite subject. I find a lot of them too subtle and that they dance around the subject rather than going right at it. That isn't a problem in 'You Won't Be Alone'. The film gives us the viewpoint from their perspective and it is refreshing.

The film has some pretty messed up stuff in it. The opening scene really sets the tone for just how grim it is willing to get. It was tough to watch in certain parts but the film was certainly better off for it.

It is a little slow and is going to lose some people in that way. It's also not particularly scary horror if that is what you're going into it hoping for. It is a very clean and well made film though with a uniquely interesting and original narrative. 7/10.

I was impressed by the unusual storyline as a woman attempts to fit in with normal people even though she is a witch with abnormal abilities. The cast is excellent and scenery spooky. Rapace leads the ensemble and everyone is up to the task. The film is in Serbian and the subtitles are at times not grammatically correct. Even so, I rank this as a top tier horror movie.

Normal movie goers will hate this for its slow pace, subtitles, lack of dialogue and its 'show don't tell' style of plot exposition. Fans of cinematic art will love it for the same reasons.

It wouldn't surprise me if this gets remade in the an English language version as the plot is unique and scary enough.

The director is obviously inspired by Terence Malick movies and the folk horror element is drawn from movies like Robert Eggers' The Witch.

I found this to be enthralling, surprising and one of the most inventive movies I've seen this year.