Here Alone – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Here Alone

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2016

22%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Slow-burn post-apocalyptic survival horror that's more bleak than compelling—think 'The Road' but less memorable.

5.6/10

56%

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Here Alone

movie

NR, 2016

22%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Slow-burn post-apocalyptic survival horror that's more bleak than compelling—think 'The Road' but less memorable.

5.6

56%

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5.6/10

56%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here Alone is the kind of indie horror that shows up on free streaming platforms and makes you wonder if you should've just rewatched 'The Road' instead. It's got the bones of a good idea—woman alone in the woods after a disease wipes out civilization—but the execution is glacial and the payoff minimal.

The 66% critic score vs. 54% audience score tells the story: reviewers appreciated the attempt at atmospheric slow-burn horror, but regular viewers found it boring. The 5.6 IMDb and 2.8 Letterboxd ratings are even more damning—this is forgettable fare in a crowded genre.

For parents: this is absolutely not for kids. It's rated 15+ for violence, disturbing content, and the emotional weight of child death. But honestly, even if your 16-year-old is into horror, they'll probably check their phone halfway through. Skip it unless you're specifically hunting for obscure post-apocalyptic indies, and even then, lower your expectations.

Age Fit

This is for adults only—Common Sense Media says 15+, but realistically, it's a niche indie horror-drama that most teens would bounce off. The slow pace, bleak tone, and lack of payoff make it a tough sell even for genre fans. If you're looking for post-apocalyptic survival stories for teens, try 'The Maze Runner' or even 'A Quiet Place' instead.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A bleak post-apocalyptic survival story focused on isolation, loss, and trauma. The tone is relentlessly grim—the protagonist has lost her family to a disease outbreak and spends most of the runtime alone, scavenging and grieving. While it's not gratuitously cruel, there's little emotional uplift or modeling of healthy relationships. This is survival horror, not character growth.

Imaginative

The premise—woman alone in wilderness after epidemic—isn't particularly fresh in the crowded post-apocalyptic genre. It's a slow-burn character study that prioritizes mood over world-building or creative problem-solving. Some credit for the indie approach and focus on psychological survival rather than action set pieces, but critics noted it feels derivative of better films in the genre. Letterboxd's 2.8/5 suggests audiences found it forgettable.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 15+ for good reason. This is a horror film with violence (infected/zombie-like creatures), implied death of a child (the protagonist's backstory involves losing her baby), disturbing imagery, and intense psychological distress. The epidemic creates 'infected' humans who attack, leading to violent confrontations. Not gory by modern horror standards, but the emotional trauma and threat of violence throughout make it unsuitable for younger viewers. Parents expecting a wilderness survival drama would be blindsided by the horror elements.

Enriching

There's some merit in exploring grief, resilience, and the psychology of extreme isolation, but the film's slow pace and middling execution (5.6 IMDb, 54% audience on RT) suggest it doesn't deliver meaningful insights effectively. It's more atmospheric mood piece than thought-provoking drama. The survival skills shown are minimal, and the emotional journey feels more punishing than enlightening. Not much to discuss or learn beyond 'bad things happen and people suffer.'

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If you're into indie horror that prioritizes atmosphere and psychological dread over jump scares, this attempts that vibe
The lead performance (Lucy Walters) is committed, carrying most of the film solo
For older teens interested in filmmaking, it's a case study in low-budget indie production—shot in the woods with minimal cast

⚠

What to Watch For

Child death in backstory (the protagonist lost her baby to the epidemic)—this is emotionally heavy and could be triggering
Infected humans who attack violently, plus general horror-movie tension throughout
It's genuinely slow and depressing—critics liked it more than audiences, and even then, 'liked' is generous
Not suitable for anyone under 15, and honestly, most 15-year-olds would find it boring

Conversation Starters

"How do you think people would actually cope with total isolation like that?"
"The film shows her losing hope and then finding other survivors—do you think that would make things better or more complicated?"
"What survival skills would actually matter in a scenario like this?"

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