Review: ‘You Won’t Be Alone’ is Chilling Folk Horror with a Surprisingly Moving and Life-Affirming Core

Goran Stolevski’s “You Won’t Be Alone” begins with the birth of a baby girl named Nevena. Soon afterward, a horribly disfigured witch named Maria (who local villagers call ‘The Wolf Eateress’) appears to the mother in a disturbing scene, making a covenant with Nevena’s mother where the child will be given to Maria on her 16^th birthday.

Tragically, this leads to a sheltered life for Navena. Instead of Nevena’s mother letting her live a normal life and have a loving childhood, she hides her in a deep cavern to “protect” her. Nevena spends the first 16 years of her life surrounded by rocky walls and two holes in the cavern above her where sunlight occasionally shines in. The 16 years mercifully pass in a few brief minutes of screen time; but the isolation and trauma Nevena feels is palpable.

Learning About the World and Humanity

Maria (Anamaria Marinca) still gets to Nevena when she turns 16 though; but the film really takes off when Maria, frustrated by Nevena’s inability to talk or do anything, abandons her. She is confident Nevena will die because she can’t take care of herself.

The film’s majority then focuses on Nevena (played by different actors) as she learns about the world and humanity. Having been isolated in the cavern so long, the forests, cabins, rivers, and everything else are new to her, like another world. As we watch Nevena’s awe at the wonders of nature—as well as the sensations of being human—we feel like we’re seeing these things for the first time too, and it’s amazing.

Nevena refuses to succumb to hopelessness…”

Stolevski focuses on the macro and the micro; Nevena is as enraptured by water droplets dripping off a leaf as she is with cloud formations in the sky. And in a subtle nod to the transgender movement, Nevena uses her witch abilities throughout the film to change between male and female bodies, where she learns the pleasures of both bodies through a few lovingly-filmed sensual scenes.   

A Horror Film that Refuses to be Nihilistic and Remorseless

Meanwhile, Maria looms in the background, and pops up from time to time to torment Nevena. The film even takes a side track at one point to go back in time and show Maria’s back story. What’s fascinating about the film is the contrast between Maria and Nevena. Where Maria’s life is filled with pain and dreams unfulfilled, Nevena took control of her destiny, though her life begins much like Maria’s. Nevena refuses to succumb to hopelessness, eventually finding love and making a good life for herself.

And that’s what’s so beautiful about the film. Despite the relentless horrors that hang over the film and pop up in bloody fashion throughout, at the heart of the film is one woman’s lust for life, her love for life, and the beauty around her. There are some pretty touching moments throughout the film, moments of tenderness and joy, moments where the wonders of nature are on full display, and they’re pretty special. They elevate the film above being just another horror film.

Sure, diehard horror fans may be disappointed by the film’s refusal to be nihilistic and remorseless; but there are plenty of other films that embrace that aesthetic. In “You Won’t Be Alone,” we get something different, a little deeper and more emotional, and I loved it.

Currently, “You Won’t Be Alone” is only available to watch in theaters. 

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