User reviews

Amazingly enough I saw this film at a local AMC during its limited run. This film is very much a cross between The Witch (2015) and Under the Skin (2013). It is very slow moving and methodical but follows a coherent plot. A very visual film and though it has a narrator there isn't as much as emphasis on dialogue. If you enjoy folklore, A24 type horror films then this is worth your time. This film has a very narrow audience and will not appeal to many people. You have been warned.

I've never heard of this one - but it's my first Macedonian language film, so I think I can be forgiven for that. As with the last film, I'm not convinced I have the right temperament for a horror film - but things worked out very well last time, so fingers crossed.

We follow Nevena who has a very boring childhood - promised to a witch as a new-born (and made mute at the same time), her mother brings her up in a cave until the age of sixteen when the witch reappears, takes the form of her mother and turns her into a witch as well. I mean, we've all been there, right?!?

Unfortunately, Old Maid Maria (the original witch) isn't too impressed with Nevena's witching skills - she prefers playing with the animals rather than breaking their necks and eating them raw (apparently that's what real witches do). This results in Maria leaving Nevena to fend for herself with no knowledge of the real world - which goes just about as well as you'd imagine it would. To start with anyway, but as time goes on she gets the hang of things and the film manages to conjure up a surprisingly emotional ending.

It's possibly a little too deliberate at times - some of the scenes certainly couldn't be accused of rushing things. For "horror" (it's not really a horror film at all, but it has some horror elements), it's very poetic and beautiful - The Guardian calls it spellbinding, but I can quite imagine that a lot of people would describe it as dull - for me it fell somewhere in between. It was very nice to look at and I was somewhat intrigued as to how it was going to end, but it really could have done with getting there a bit quicker.

It's a very atmospheric film with stylish visuals (and some very cool locations) and a sparse, yet effective soundtrack. It portrays a sense of wonder well - lots of things are being seen through Nevena's eyes for the first time and you get the mix of confusion and awe well. Overall, I'd say it's well written and shot (by Goran Stolevski) but maybe some harsher editing wouldn't have gone amiss - although it's not the sort of film that would benefit from being rushed.

However, because of that sense of wonder, the actors often don't have an awful lot to do other than gaze into the middle distance - Nevena is played by seven different actors across the film (if you include the baby!) and Sara Klimoska, Noomi Rapace, Carloto Cotta and Alice Englert all do a good job as adult Nevena so it feels harsh not to mention Petra Ciric Leontina Bainovic and Anastasija Karanovich as the other incarnations, even if they have less to do. The only other character we really spend any time with is Old Maid Maria who is played well by Anamaria Marinca, but she's rather disguised under tons of make-up (as a result of a rather unfortunate "burning at the stake" incident).

One last thing to talk about is the way that the witches shapeshift because it's really quite something - they take the guts of their intended target and shove them into a cavity which magically opens in their chest. I can assure you that would never have occurred to me, but I guess that just proves I'm not a witch!

WIkipedia tells me that it actually counts as an Australian film and was put forward as their nomination for the Best International Feature Film Academy Award. It also tells me it's shot in IMAX aspect ratio (1.44:1) - which feels like an odd choice but directors do odd things and we've had a lot less weird aspect ratios this year than we had last, so I'm considerably more tolerant of it!

All in all for me, I think it's an "admire" rather than a "like" (although I did like the ending), but is it a recommendation? Probably not to be honest - it has a lot to recommend it but I'm just not sure who'd really "like" it. But if you're in the mood for some fantasy/horror which gives you plenty of time to ponder the very nature of humanity whilst regaling your eyes with some beautiful visuals, then this is just the film for you and it's available to rent in all the usual locations.

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.

Greetings again from the darkness. Perhaps you are a normal movie lover and have never wondered what it might be like if director Terrence Malick delved into the horror genre. Well, the first feature film from writer-director Goran Stolevski gives every indication that he has spent entirely too much time with such thoughts. This arthouse folk horror film will likely frustrate many with its unconventional approach, odd narrative, and spiritual narration that hardly contributes to the characters in the story.

Opening in a remote mountain village in 19th century Macedonia, we witness a 'Wolf-eatress" witch named 'Old Maid Maria' (Anamarie Marinca; 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS, 2007) visiting a mother (Kamka Tocinovski) and her newborn baby. It turns out Maria has a taste for newborn blood, but the mother negotiates a deal which would allow her to raise her daughter Nevena until Maria takes her in teen years. The child is then hidden away in a cave, isolated for years and mostly feral when Maria returns. Teenage Nevena (Sara Klimoska) knows nothing of the outside world and sets out on her journey of life lessons, guided by Maria, a witch who may or may not have her best interests at heart.

Shape-shifting, or assuming the form of their victims is a trait that Maria passes along to her protégé. This process is quick and brutal, and we see it played out along the way as Nevena takes over a local mother (Noomi Rapace), so as to get a taste of normalcy, a wolf (just because?), a man (Carlota Cota) so as to absorb power and experience sex, and a young woman (Alice Englert) in order to give birth to a child. This shape-shifting is referred in the movie as "dressed in corpse", which is a spot-on description. The Wolf-eatress follows closely, but does give her new daughter the space to explore humans, though Maria does not share the appeal.

There are some excellent scenes in the film, but it leaves the impression of trying too hard to come across as Malick doing horror. Still, with some similarities to Robert Eggers' horror gem, THE WITCH (2015), there is enough atmosphere of terror to keep us engaged and working through the often-confounding narration. As a bonus, it leaves us with the perfect final line, "And yet ..." Opening in theaters on April 1, 2022.

This is NOT a casual watch, nor is it really a horror film in the traditional sense. You Won't Be Alone is so bizarre, unconventional, and sometimes grotesque that I'm honestly baffled that it got funding. But I'm very glad that it did.

It's technically a witch movie, but it's also kind of an alien movie. Let me explain...

No spoilers here, but the premise follows a young witch in the 19th century who was kept isolated from humanity until adulthood, then experiences what it's like to be human for the first time by taking over the bodies of villagers and living out their lives.

The rest of the film is a soulful meditation that is essentially an alien observing how humans think, feel, and how they treat one another. It gives a very unique perspective on the simple things in life that we often take for granted, both good and bad.

It made me grateful for the full spectrum of human pleasures and pains-happiness and heartbreak.

The weirdness of the witch elements and the story's slow pace will definitely turn a lot of people off. The fact that a good chunk of the film just portrays normal simple lives being lived makes some moments feel rather repetitive. Sometimes I found myself thinking "I get the point, and I like the point, but let's move on now."

Still, this is one of those films that had such ambition that I can't help but admire it-even the small stuff I didn't personally care for.

If you are in a thinking mood, this is a soulful, dark drama that will certainly satisfy.

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

Note: Review has been edited after a second watch.

The story is about a young witch in the 19th century who was kept isolated from humanity until adulthood, then experiences what it's like to be human for the first time by taking over the bodies of villagers and living out their lives. Australian director Goran Stolevski takes influence on experimental, artsy and cinematic horror movies from the past and tries to create his version of witchcraft horror like "The Witch". Stolevski no doubt is trying his best which I applaud him for doing so. Here, while the film is flawed, the beautiful camerawork, performances, music, and writing elements helps to make the film interesting and unique.

The production costumes that sets the period of Macedonian culture is interesting, most of the performances are pretty good, and some really good visual effects that looked really good. The actors portraying the main character was an interesting choice I must say. The characters however wasn't as very interesting as I was hoping for because they weren't given enough depth to care much about. At times, the narration provided felt like the movie didn't know how to find creative ways to present the story so they just gave us exposition instead of allowing the audiences to be creative and think about it.

Overall, while it has it's problems, the film is worth a shot.

Rating: B+

You ever have a fancy meal that you can appreciate but it's just not what the doctor ordered? That's how You Won't be Alone left me feeling. It's a beautiful film, that is about witches, and life and other stuff. It's not really a horror movie, even though it's about witches, so if that makes no sense, I can't help you much. I'm not mad at this movie for trying to be something bigger than it is, but I think I'll stick to the tried and true horror tropes instead.

Dark, slow, disturbing, poetic, beautifully shot, tender, makes you ponder your existence, and one of the best portrayals of a witch I have seen.

Watched at Cinema 21.

This movie is about a young woman who is doomed to live a restless life as a witch that is transforming from one skin into another to eventually reach what we all want: happiness. And all this just because her mother didn't want her to be eaten by a notorious and cruel witch who is busy with bringing despair and suffering onto people because of her inability to be happy herself. The pact with the devil has been made, but living a doomed life is better than not living at all, isn't it?

This is at least the surface level of the plot. If one dives deeper, it is a story about escaping trauma and the inevitability of living a good life without having to suffer but still deciding to go on. The core theme reminded me of Nietzsche's credo "amor fati," which is the choice to say yes to all of life and loving your destiny whatever it may entail. If you said yes once to the good, you also must say yes to the bad things of life. The message is very refreshing because, despite this being a rather dark movie, it's at least not as nihilistic as many other movies nowadays. That is why I wouldn't call this movie a horror movie, but it certainly has its creepy moments. It is much more some kind of spooky folk drama.

The cast is very well chosen, and the Macedonian culture seems to be portrayed very authentically. But, unfortunately, there were too many technical flaws in the movie which almost destroyed the experience for me. The camera work was really amateurish and unnecessarily shaky (I know this because I also filmed a short once with my Canon camera and it looked almost the same). The music choice was also not good at all, and the audio of the narrator's voice (which was also often quite annoying) was way too loud while even louder, cheesy music was playing in the background.

This movie could have been much better if they had gotten more production money. But it's really nice to see that the lead actress of the A24 movie 'Lamb' was not afraid to take part in this more humble work of art, which lies somewhere in between a very well-made project of a film graduate and a semi-professional TV production (but much more original and with soul!).

I really wanted to give this movie more stars, but I can only give it a maximum of 6.5/10. If the camera operator hadn't had caffeine-induced shaky hands and the score wasn't so unsuitable, I would have given this interesting folk tale a solid 7.5/10. But, as we all know, there has to be always room for improvement. I'll check out the director's next movie for sure.

If you want to see beautiful Macedonian landscapes and a heartwarming story with folk horror elements, you will probably like this one.

I looked at my watch and was amazed to see that only an hour and something had passed because it felt like easily twice that much time. Whoever thought one could feel so utterly bored with the tedium of unending visual poetry and stilted speech.

God, I was glad when it was over. Why did I spend so much time on it then? Well . . . To be honest I didn't want to waste the $5.99.

One of the reviews said "You've probably never seen anything like it before and you probably never will again." To which I say, "Let's hope not."

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.

I was angry at the beginning of the movie. At first, I saw it as a movie trying to make "art" with nonsense amateur cinematic camera movements. But after the girl turned into a witch, the movie became an interesting one. I watched the movie till the end without getting bored. There were ridiculous cameras and cuts again. But I didn't mind because the subject and the process were very good. Acting was very good. The film takes place in 19th century Macedonia. In fact, we see the inequality between men and women, the difficulty of village life, and nonsense beliefs in those years through the eyes of the witch, and I think they reflected it very well. I didn't like the fact that the movie was narrated like a poem as the inner voice of the witch. The general audience will watch and dislike i think. I liked it, even though I didn't like it at first. It was a good job.

What I did like : creative story, with a good direction and a somewhat feel good ending. Decent effects, and visuals.

What I didn't like : a clashing score that changes on a dime, ASMR narration, would have been better as a short film, felt bloated clocking in just under 2 hours.

Strong Brothers Grimm vibes.

Also, If you like atmospheric folk horror/witch movies, such as The VVitch: A New-England Folktale and Hagazussa: A Heathen's Curse, give it a try.

I can't help but admire the daring of films that cloak their narrative in an aura of mystery and make the viewer work for their entertainment. Recognizable genre elements are subdued and twisted into dark fantasy by way of a naturalistic fairy tale. We learn the story, the rules and witch lore of the movie's universe, and specific course of events with the same sputtering, inexact difficulty as with which protagonist Nevena learns about the world. There's tremendous, breath-taking horror in 'You won't be alone,' but it is organic and deeply understated rather than immediate and precise; the inattentive audience will be lost. Awe-inspiring artistry of both film-making and storytelling, providing stupendous reward in their own time, is the top priority over easy clarity and instant gratification. Robert Eggers' 'The Witch' is an understandable point of comparison, and Lukas Feigelfeld's 'Hagazussa' a nearer and more appropriate one, but both these are far more direct and plainspoken. For all this, 'You won't be alone' is in its way a challenging watch, and one that will surely appeal best to a select viewership - but it's also roundly excellent and well worth the investment.

All the work that went into making this movie is exquisite, without exception. The filming locations are gorgeous, and the production design is superb. The costume design, hair and makeup work (especially for Maria), and blood and gore are vivid and marvelous. Matthew Chuang's cinematography is lush and vibrant, and Luca Cappelli's editing sharp and keen. This may be only the first feature film of Goran Stolevski, but he demonstrates fine capabilities as a director, and his screenplay is incredibly intelligent, not to mention altogether remarkable. We've seen many films about people, and especially children, discovering that they have supernatural powers, and exploring them - but what other movies have ever portrayed that discovery and exploration with genuine childlike wonder, innocence, and naivete? Even the broken grasp of language in the protagonist's narration discretely emphasizes this splendid approach; the plot at large is greatly absorbing, and fulfilling, but the scene writing that weaves together the tapestry is equally rich at every turn. Why, the sense of joyous fascination is so integral and predominant that 'You won't be alone' rather comes across as the type of horror film Werner Herzog would doubtlessly make if he had a go at the genre (remake of 'Nosferatu' notwithstanding).

Make no mistake, this is all but downright flummoxing at first blush, and stands far outside norms of supernatural horror flicks. It's quiet unlike anything else I've seen, really, a traipse of whimsy that makes the closest corresponding titles seem ruefully mainstream side by side. With all this having been said, however, whatever a viewer must commit for the viewing experience, the profit therefrom is immense. Violent, cryptic, perplexing, captivating, haunting, satisfying - 'You won't be alone' is all this, and much more. Flush with fabulous, smart detail in every regard, replete with peerless acting from everyone in front of the camera, this is well worth the patience, open-mindedness, and forcefully active engagement that is required, and well worth whatever steps one must take to watch it in the first place. Not everyone will get it, not everyone will appreciate it, but I for one think 'You won't be alone' is a brilliant masterpiece and a must-see. My highest, heartiest recommendation - bravo!

How could this be horror when I felt so bored and almost dozed off? The movie was a stream of consciousness sprinkled with whisper-coo voice-overs, like watching a 100-minute commercial for tourism. So dreadfully dull and bland. It's probably good as a cure for insomniac.

A peasant woman tends to household chores as her infant daughter Nevena cries uncontrollably. Then, suddenly the bawling stops.

Surprised, the peasant woman turns to find something that makes her gasp in horror.

A hideous old hag sits next to her child.

Naked. With scorched skin. And thin wispy strands of grey hair.

In true fairy tale fashion, a dark covenant is forged between the peasant woman and the witch.

In exchange for letting Nevena live, the mother will hand her over to the old hag once she turns sixteen.

The peasant woman tries to protect her child by hiding her on sacred ground (in a remote cave outside the village).

But sure enough, when the girl comes of age, the witch returns for what she was promised.

The first 20 odd minutes of You Won't Be Alone are absolutely riveting.

Then, the film takes a turn, and although still interesting, never quite rises to the same level.

The witch possesses the power of being able to take on the form of any creature, animal or human, which she bestows upon her ward, before curiously abandoning the girl to her fate.

We track Nevena's journey as she lives several different lives, including a farmer's wife, a dog and a young peasant girl.

A boldly ambitious first feature from Goran Stolevski, the film explores the themes of womanhood and humanity in general, and makes some genuinely insightful observations.

Although the Terrence Malickian 'visual montage with poetic voice over' technique is overused, and some of the characterizations are simplistic, this is a film of undeniable power and beauty.

I only lasted longer than 20 minutes because I paid so much. The high reviews are phony. A long boring movie about a girl who talks to herself and a burnt piece of bacon that won't leave her alone. Maybe all the lame stuff said was supposed to symbolize something, I don't know. I only know that it was a snooze fest with occasional nudity and violence.

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.

Too bad it was overshadowed by the fact that Macedonia didn't exist in the 19th century and the directot blatantly stole Bulgarian folk songs and tried to prsent them as Macedonian.

A Macedonian language arthouse horror drama with a clever form of storytelling within the low budget limitations and yet it looked phenomenal and fantastic. A grounded realistic witch tale with mesmerizing music, atmospheric locations and a brilliant cast. It's not really a full-blown horror film. An emotional drama filled with trauma and grief.

There was a weird sensation I experienced while watching this film which was watching an artistic venture that tiptoed along a line between entrancing and extremely mundane, much like the delicate balance in a ghost story. It neither tightened its grip on me emotionally nor did it leave me yawning profusely. Instead, it inhabited that curious space in between where you are left somewhat confused and unable to read too deeply into the curiosity this film possesses.

The film unfolds slowly, punctuated by moments of emotional intensity. Occasionally there were some grotesque scenes of a woman tearing out one's organs and the ever-haunting presence of a horribly burned, scarred witch which hinted at a vast storied history, one that unravels gradually as the story progresses.

The climax, however, was where the film truly shone, delivering a heart-wrenching battle that left me reflecting intently on its themes with newfound sympathy for both main parts and the enduring suffering they have had to endure throughout their tormented years of life.

International cast members such as Noami Rapace were touted in the film's promotion, adding to the anticipation surrounding it, however, she was seen fleetingly before meeting her demise, misleading the audience on her impact on the story.

It was the solid thematic exploration, with one of the most important being how easy in certain times and certain villages it was as a man compared to a woman, which was one of the clearest and most accurate representations of historically generations without having to push modern agendas.

As a foreign language piece, it deftly blended fantasy with historical reality, offering a thought-provoking story that kept me engaged on and off due to the slow burn. While the slow start really tested my patience, the film eventually finds its stride, holding together just enough to leave enough of a lasting impression.

You Won't Be Alone is not for everyone, and I will admit I found it difficult to make it all the way to the end. Is it worth it? Well yes and no. Yes if you want something widely considered indie, and unique, but no it you want Hollywood effects and gripping storytelling, while it is east to sit on the fence, I wouldn't watch it again, but I am glad I watched once to cultivate some different thoughts circulating through my mind.

6/10.

The basic concept is concrete and intense.

However, the execution failed to inject the same to the viewer.

It is slow paced, and the initial phase is a bit off the element to grab your attention.

Turned it off after 10 mins. This one was a no. Not sure about the raving critiques. After seeing the 7.3 for X and all the sparkling reviews there, I have my doubts about the ones here being real. X is now under a 7. This one was at 6.8 when I tried it out. We'll see what happens. I mean, 8's 9's and 10's? Come on, man.