Not Alone takes a few different directions right from the top – starting out from a fantastic point of view, veering into a careful criticism of racism and white privilege, and doing a spin into paranormal and sci-fi. Somehow, in spite of a careening start, it pulls together into something deeply meaningful and fairly magical. The mysterious Lorej Lavi (Andi Norris), a Haitian legend and, as the Lawsons learn, a powerful reality – is carefully designed to play to the strengths of the script and the limitations of budget and technology. Familiar, and equally new and unique, the creature design relies carefully on visual effects that spark nostalgia and our universal (pun intended) love of the stars. 

When Shelly Lawson (Sarah Schroeder-Matzkin) moves her family into a gorgeous southern estate at a shockingly low price, it almost seems too good to be true. After a strange run in with their realtor as they tour the home, the family can’t help being a little suspicious as they begin unpacking. Little do they know that they have every reason to be suspicious – and while this sounds like the beginning of a ghost story, the truth is much, much stranger than fiction. Seeking the guidance of Dr. James Clay (Richard Lawson), the family sets out to save their home, and themselves.

Like other sci-fi greats before it, Not Alone is a commentary on feminism and motherhood, and on the lengths we go to protect our own. Finding the humanity in an inhuman creature isn’t easy, but it is one of the things Not Alone pulls off with gusto. Megan Ashley Brown as daughter Jess shines, sharing her gentle heart with us each moment she is on screen – which, in my opinion, is not nearly enough. Thankfully, she more than makes up for the general un-likeability of both of her parental figures, Schroeder-Matzkin in particular, who comes off as privileged and snotty more than caring and maternal. 

Unfortunately, since there is an aspect of Haitian voodoo and a distinct divide between the locals and the Larsons – a divide defined by color – it’s hard to look past the way race is handled in Not Alone. There’s an overtone of prejudice – from the way the Larsons (Shelly in particular) talk down to the locals and Dr. Clay, to the way they brush off generations of meaningful ritual and legend. I do believe it’s intentional – but it’s awfully uncomfortable to watch with no real consequence for the perpetrators. Once again, if you’re a black person in a horror or sci-fi film your luck is pretty much shot.

Not Alone hits a few rough road bumps along the way, but somehow still manages to leave us smiling and hopeful at the end of it. Not perfect, but perfectly original.

6 out of 10