Panische Angst

After a death of a young woman in a movie theatre, the pattern continues of a serial killer targeting brides-to-be before the night of their wedding. Amy is the next one who's got the killer's eye and he begins to follow her. She starts picking up on the coincidences and soon worries for her well-being as her big day draws closer. On the case is a cop (who's been after the guy from the very beginning) has tracked down killer's next victim, now it's a matter of time just who gets to Amy first.

Standard post-Halloween low-budget slasher with a smart title that really has no relation to anything in the film, but gains topical interest for being the starting point of a young charismatic (it was there from the get-go) Tom Hanks in a tiny role. Oh my god, oh my god it's Tom Hanks! Hey it's really nothing new, as how many stars have began in low-rent horror films. Now we got that out of the way, let's stick to the movie.

No surprises, as it's systemically written, but well illustrated and organised in its clichés to keep one amused. There's a nasty, violent side there, but it never goes that far or do anything with an imaginative gist. Instead of being graphic and exploitive, a 'Psycho' vibe melted with 'Halloween' is demonstrated. An old-styling of giving the situations more weight and colour nicely breaks up the stalk n slash elements. The side-story of the cop tracking down the killer is underplayed, but works better for it. While the motive (quite an obvious, if not particularly convincing one) of the bride killer is suggested in a flashback scene… or that's what it seems. No hiding the fact who's the killer, as we see him and wielding a blade as he openly takes out his first victim that closely resembles the opening of Wes Craven's slasher hit 'Scream 2 (1997)".

Armand Mastroianni (The man behind little unknown horror oddities such as 'Cameron's Closet (1989)', 'The Supernaturals (1986) 'and very good 'The Clairvoyant (1982)') fashionably controlled direction is all about placement and build-up, despite the sparse atmosphere and at times mishandled suspense or the lack of it. Few set-pieces work and some neat location choices (carnival setting to morgue), and they come off during the latter end and the pace never slouches within the tight time-frame. Sound FX is effectively sourced and Alexander and Mark Scardion's music score (with a touch of Halloween) packs a sting amongst its unusual cues. The lead heroine comes off well-rounded and enforcers a head of steam thanks to the perky confidence of Caitlin O'Heaney. Don Scardino is likable as her ex-boyfriend who still has feelings for her and Elizabeth Kemp as one of her colourful friends. Lewis Arlt productively gets out a worn-out cop routine and Tom Rolfing's lurking presence makes for a modest killer who's good at slicing and dicing with little to no blood being spilt (truly class- work!) and staring down his victims.

Yet another enjoyable 80's slasher but added with a little something different. The characters are not stupid teens, the killer doesn't wear a mask and there is not gratuitous gore and nudity prioritized for plot and story. This is actually a really neat and slick slasher film, and not as sleazy as many other movies of the same type.

The acting is above average. Caitlin O'Heaney is a really sincere and likable heroine, who - like her on screen friends - is so sympathetic that you really care for her. Don Scardino is also very likable, and fun, as O'Heaney's ex-boyfriend. Also, for curiosity seekers, a pre-fame Tom Hanks (in his debut) pops up in an early role and fits in rather well. Too bad his on screen time is limited to two scenes where he explains the psychology of fear.

This film has quite a bit of suspense and thrilling horror and adding to the suspense and thrills. Only O'Heaney's character is aware that something's wrong and it's her fear that we can sympathize with. Also there are effective locations like amusement parks, movie theatres (in a good opening scene that obviously inspired "Scream 2") and a big house.

Unfortunately the film has some serious flaws. It would work really well as a thriller but is obviously built up like a slasher film. Still it lacks gore and the murders are very unoriginal and often off-screen. Also, like many horror films this starts out great but falls back on a disappointing climax. After behaving pretty rationally throughout the movie our heroine makes several stupid mistakes before turning into a wimp who doesn't seem to be able to defend herself.

All in all a slick slasher film with a good and likable cast sympathetic characters and suspenseful situations.

Some of the scenes in this movie , while we have seen them before, are worth a view, rather odd at times.

Tom Hanks in a bit part as a psychology major talking about fear and how audiences pay to be frightened , as a spoof of the movie itself.

Tom Rolfing as the Michael Myers type villain is good, this is a comparable film to "Halloween". The scene with the fish tank is something you will remember for a few days, at any rate. The scenes in the amusement park are good, better than "Terror Train" a vehicle which included, of all young struggling actors, Bill Maher.

Anyway, if you are up for it, there is also an amusing scene with now famous James Rebhorn ("Far from Heaven", "The Incredible Mr. Ripley") as a cheating professor having an affair with his student. He comes to a bad end, here. 6/10.

He Knows You're Alone seemed to come pretty early in the 80's slasher boom, so it hues closer to Halloween than, say, Friday the 13th in the gore department. It fancies character development and suspense over cheesy effects and severed limbs flying everywhere and it's all the better for it.

Despite a silly detective subplot that feels unneeded (if we're being honest, most detective subplots in these kinds of movies are unneeded), He Knows You're Alone is a fairly well paced and suspenseful slasher film centering around Amy, a bride to be with cold feet, who's being stalked by a mysterious man. She sees him at the bridal store, ice cream shop, outside her window, and even in a carnival haunted house. He's definitely been taking a few pages from the Michael Myers playbook, because he's taking his sweet time to get to her by disposing of her friends and loved ones first, all the while a slightly familiar piano/synth theme plays.

This movie is mostly known for being the breakthrough film of Tom Hanks these days, but He Knows You're Alone stands quite well on its own two legs as a somewhat scary example of a slasher movie. It has its pacing issues here and there, but the characters are well drawn for a film of this type and that just adds to the suspense.

My Rating 4/5 ****

Yes it is another try for 80's Producer's to make cash on HALLOWEEN well it is not a rip-off more of a clone. A good clone in fact.HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE (1980)stars Caitlan O'Heaney plays a victim who is stalked by a bride killer (Tom Rolfing) since O'Heaney is going to be married to a class clown (Don Scardino) we suggest that they run as fast as they can. This killer is no Michael Myers. In one scene he cuts off Elizabeth Kemp's head! Lewis Arlt plays a detective who is trying to get him for killing his wife. Tom Hanks has his screen debut in this film. The film is really scary at night time. And frightfully fun. The one thing in this film that is not needed is Don Scardino's funness. The most unforgetalbe scene- A girl is killed in a Movie Theater which the scene was later made simular in SCREAM 2. Mostly shot in New York City. And not as good has another 1980 film TERROR TRAIN but way much better than FRIDAY THE 13TH despite it's little violence.