Reviewed by Stuart O'Connor
Stars Colin Hanks, Ana Claudia Talancon, Jordana Spiro, Jonathan Trent,
Alex Boling, Anthony Armatrading, Nicole Lawson, Morgan Star | Written by Eric Nicholas
UK certification 15 | UK RRP £15.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 80 minutes | Directed by Eric Nicholas
Alone With Her is one of the nastiest, creepiest movies I have seen in a long time. But in this case, I think the filmmaker would take that as a compliment. Surveillance and voyerism are popular themes with directors — some of the better known titles are: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Vertigo or Rear Window; Phil Noyce's Sliver; David Lynch's Blue Velvet; David MacKenzie's Hallam Foe; Brian De Palma's Body Double; and Michael Powell's Peeping Tom. Writer/director Eric Nicholas adds a new twist to the theme by using the latest in surveillance technology for his tale of a loner who takes his obsession way too far.
Doug (Hanks) is a weird psycho loner who likes to spy on girls. He uses cameras hidden in shoulder bags or hats to take sneaky peeks up their skirts as they get into cars, or down their tops as they bend over, or as they lie sunning themselves on the beach. Eventually he comes across Amy (Talancon) walking her dog, and follows her home. Later, when she's out, he breaks in and sets up a whole heap of tiny spy cameras throughout her apartment. Over the coming weeks he watches her as often as he can — even while she's asleep, using the night vision camera he installed in her bedroom. After coming to know her likes and dislikes, he makes a point of "bumping into her" in her local coffee shop. They chat; meet up again; gradually get to know each other and become friends, all because Amy thinks they have a lot on common.
You can probably work out where it's going to end up, so I'll say no more — except that how it ends is not what you would have expected. First-time filmmaker Nicholas has done well with this nasty little stalker flick, shot entirely from the stalker's pioint of view, and as though it's all been done with spycams. The only time the camera moves is when it's one hidden upon the psychopathic Doug; in fact, you don't even see Hanks for the first half of the film. It's a creepy experience watching this film, you almost feel like a voyeur yourself. Terrific performances from the two leads — and a particularly brave one from Talancon as the victim — makes this a fascinating if not entirely pleasant viewing experience.
EXTRAS *** An audio commentary from writer/director Nichols, interviews with Nichols andstars Hanks and Talancon, an alternative ending, deleted scenes and the theatrical trailer.