“Alone” is the latest Mohanlal starrer to arrive on Hotstar. Set during the COVID lockdown, the movie features only the iconic actor as he gets trapped inside his new apartment due to lockdown restrictions. He soon begins to suspect that his apartment is haunted by ghostly spirits. The film was shot during the pandemic and was directed by Shaji Kailas, who is known for movies such as “Kerala Cafe (2009)” and “News (1989)”. Here are 7 other films that are similar to “Alone.”
Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)
Bo Burnham’s pandemic special is a unique experience. Written, directed, and starring only himself, the movie is entirely shot inside his apartment during the pandemic. Burnham is magnetic here with his delightfully charming and witty persona while also not shying away from deeper emotions. The film has a lot to say about social media and the shift in western culture in recent years, along with the existential crisis and mental illness induced by the pandemic. Plus, the music is profound and funny at the same time. Bo Burnham proves that he has a serious talent for filmmaking, along with editing and cinematography, and should definitely consider directing more movies in the future. “Inside” is surely lightning in a bottle.
Locke (2013)
Starring Tom Hardy and entirely taking place inside a car, “Locke” is in many ways similar to “Alone,” as the movie also features only one character seen on screen. Directed by Steven Knight, the film follows Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy), a married man on a trip from Birmingham to London to visit his colleague, who is in labour with his child (conceived on a one-night stand). During the journey, he receives a number of phone calls that threatens to turn his life upside down. Tom Hardy carries the film with a commanding performance. The movie is also praised by critics for its unique concept, which is executed well with the help of a strong script and excellent direction.
Praana (2019)
Directed by V.K. Prakash, “Praana” follows writer Tara Anuradha (Nithya Menen) when she decides to live in an old mansion, away from the rush and chaos of city life. She soon begins to suspect the presence of something sinister in her new house. Just like “Alone,” the movie features only Menen. “Praana” received mixed reviews on its release, as some found the script to be inadequate and uninteresting, but the movie is elevated by its eerily haunting cinematography and an impressive score by Resul Pookutty.
Buried (2010)
Ryan Reynolds stars as an Iraq-based US truck driver who, after getting ambushed by a group of terrorists, finds himself buried inside a coffin. The film follows his efforts to survive the dreadful situation. Even though the film is technically not a horror film, the screenplay and the direction certainly ask the audience to view it as such. The horrifying element here is not ghosts but rather the claustrophobic situation. “Buried” showcases the horrors of claustrophobia and abandonment to the extreme. The movie also features some excellent camera work, as the story is effectively told through Reynolds’ acting combined with the dynamic camera work that actively focuses on his minute facial expressions. Clocking in at 95 minutes, “Buried” is a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish.
Noah (1975)
Noah (Robert Strauss), a soldier, is the sole survivor of nuclear annihilation and is stranded on an island that seems to be the only place safe from radiation. The sheer isolation takes a toll on him as he slowly begins to lose his grip on reality and starts to create people straight from his imagination. This goes on for a while before he ends up imagining an entire civilization around him. A haunting and hypnotic plot mixed with black and white, almost nihilistic cinematography makes this a unique film.
The Guard (2001)
Directed by actor-director Hakim Rawther, this Malayalam movie features the late Kalabhavan Mani as Appukuttan Nair, a newly appointed forest guard whose first appointment is in a remote and secluded dense forest. The movie follows Appukuttan through his initial struggles while adapting to the lonely and often very scary life in the forest to his eventual realisations about the state of humans and society. The film was received positively by the critics, with most praising Kalabhavan Mani’s impressive performance.
The Night Eats The World (2018)
Sam (Anders Danielsen Lie), a musician in Paris, awakens after a late-night party to find the city filled with zombies. He soon realises that he’s the sole survivor. Public opinion is that zombie movies have saturated the film industry, but “The Night Eats the World” finds something refreshingly new to explore in the crowded genre. The gore and violent zombie elements take a back seat here to the exploration of the depressing loneliness and existential crisis associated with such an event. In some ways, it reminds me of the COVID pandemic. That is not to say the movie doesn’t have flesh-eating zombies; it does have a few, but the main focus here is on the character of Sam and his personal struggles, both internal and external.
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