With a title like this and a trend of mindless slashers just burgeoning in the early 80s, one might think this film would have little to offer. I was mildly pleasantly surprised how fairly well-put together the film is. The story is not all that inventive about a loose murderer who having killed at a wedding now kills girls about to be married. The opening murder in the movie theater is one of the most effective scenes in the whole film as it sets the tone for the film and, with slasher film playing during murder, firmly plants tongue in cheek making fun of itself. I can respect any film doing that at the beginning. The story then sets up with one girl in particular being preyed upon by the killer shortly before she is intended to be married(isn't that death enough?)What sets this film apart from the many clones that follow and the shorter than you might suspect list of those filmed beforehand is that this film has some talent in it. Not great talent but talent nonetheless. Armand Mastroianni does an effective job behind the camera creating some pretty chilling scenes despite having virtually no budget. His approach to filming Tom Rolfing as the murderer was a good choice; have the killer lurking but rarely ever seen fully. His presence is felt through much of the film creating tension. Nice move. The director also was very good at pacing the action in the film. The actors are all decent(with the exception of a policeman working on the case prior to the new prey - Whew! he is bad). A very young, unknown Tom Hanks has a small role, and one can see some obvious talent in his unimportant role. One flaw in the direction might be the overuse of the eye close-up of virtually everyone in the film. I cannot remember seeing so many eyeballs so close, but some of these also help aid the suspense. A little goes a long way though. Again, not a great film but an entertaining one in the sub-genre of the slasher film. It is miles ahead in almost every regard over tripe like Friday the 13th.
105 Reviews
Some interesting aspects....
MarieGabrielle10 March 2008
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.
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.
Not a fan of weddings?
lost-in-limbo1 August 2008
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.
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.
Strange little "Halloween" rip-off
ehoshaw2 April 2000
Two young women are watching a slasher movie at the beginning of this film. A strange man sits behind one of them and stabs her through the back of her seat. We find out later that this man is a homicidal bride killer, because he was stood up at the altar years back by his bride, whom he later knifes. Now, as the police are searching for the man, he goes after pretty Amy Jensen, a nice girl who is getting married to a big jerk named Phil. Amy and her friends Joyce and Nancy are getting together with friends for the weekend and guess who crashes the party. There are a lot of bloodless, pointless murders in this one, huge plot holes in the script, a score that sounds curiously like Carpenter's in "Halloween", and a stupid twist ending. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Tom Hanks is in this, big deal. He has only a five minute part, playing a psych major. The climax in them morgue is alright, but Armand Mastroianni's direction is less than great. An average slasher film.
Flawed slasher movie, of curiosity interest for the presence of debuting Tom Hanks.
barnabyrudge6 March 2005
While Psycho was one of the great films of all-time, we've all had to pay a high price ever since. The slasher genre was ignited by the phenomenal success of John Carpenter's Psycho homage "Halloween", and an interminable series of slasher movies followed in the late '70s and early '80s. Halloween II, Happy Birthday To Me, Friday the 13th, The Final Terror, Visiting Hours, Prom Night and He Knows You're Alone are just a handful of titles that spring to mind. He Knows You're Alone is a fairly forgettable example from 1980, but it has sporadic moments of suspense and is of curiosity interest as the movie debut of Tom Hanks.
A knife-wielding killer (Tom Rolfing) preys upon young brides-to-be. Years earlier, he murdered his ex-girlfriend on her wedding day and has been pursued ever since by the cop, Len Gamble (Lewis Arlt), to whom she was due to be wed. The disturbed psycho starts a new campaign of bride-brutalising, first stabbing an engaged woman in a movie theater, and then stalking resourceful young Amy Jensen (Caitlin O'Heaney, in a very winning performance), whose future husband is away on a bachelor weekend. One by one, Amy's friends fall foul of the killer, until she seeks the aid of her ex-boyfriend, oddball morgue attendant Marvin (Don Scardino), in escaping from her stalker.
Director Armand Matroianni (son of actor Marcello) borrows heavily from earlier genre entries. His build-up in the murder sequences is almost identical to Carpenter's use of lighting, music and point-of-view camera shots in Halloween. The gore is kept to a minimum (apart from a quite bloody severed-head-in-a-fishtank scene) and a greater emphasis is placed on suspense. Alas, many of the "suspenseful" moments are rather fluffed because the director makes it too obvious when the jump-out-of-your-seat moments are about to occur. Hanks has a very small role as a psychology student who gives the film's self-referential speech about why people love to be scared by horror movies. He's competent in the role, but one wouldn't have predicted from this evidence that he would go on to become a super-star. A major flaw with the film is that Tom Rolfing's killer character is supposed to be a bride killer, but he breaks his own rules on numerous occasions by hacking down victims who are not brides-to-be. In fact, some of his murders are so senseless and unmotivated that he comes across more as a rampaging killing machine than anything else. It just seems to me that films of this ilk should at least make a small amount of sense, at least on their own terms.He Knows You're Alone is a competent and forgettable slasher film... if you're a fan of the genre you'll like it, if you're not you won't.
A knife-wielding killer (Tom Rolfing) preys upon young brides-to-be. Years earlier, he murdered his ex-girlfriend on her wedding day and has been pursued ever since by the cop, Len Gamble (Lewis Arlt), to whom she was due to be wed. The disturbed psycho starts a new campaign of bride-brutalising, first stabbing an engaged woman in a movie theater, and then stalking resourceful young Amy Jensen (Caitlin O'Heaney, in a very winning performance), whose future husband is away on a bachelor weekend. One by one, Amy's friends fall foul of the killer, until she seeks the aid of her ex-boyfriend, oddball morgue attendant Marvin (Don Scardino), in escaping from her stalker.
Director Armand Matroianni (son of actor Marcello) borrows heavily from earlier genre entries. His build-up in the murder sequences is almost identical to Carpenter's use of lighting, music and point-of-view camera shots in Halloween. The gore is kept to a minimum (apart from a quite bloody severed-head-in-a-fishtank scene) and a greater emphasis is placed on suspense. Alas, many of the "suspenseful" moments are rather fluffed because the director makes it too obvious when the jump-out-of-your-seat moments are about to occur. Hanks has a very small role as a psychology student who gives the film's self-referential speech about why people love to be scared by horror movies. He's competent in the role, but one wouldn't have predicted from this evidence that he would go on to become a super-star. A major flaw with the film is that Tom Rolfing's killer character is supposed to be a bride killer, but he breaks his own rules on numerous occasions by hacking down victims who are not brides-to-be. In fact, some of his murders are so senseless and unmotivated that he comes across more as a rampaging killing machine than anything else. It just seems to me that films of this ilk should at least make a small amount of sense, at least on their own terms.He Knows You're Alone is a competent and forgettable slasher film... if you're a fan of the genre you'll like it, if you're not you won't.
He Knows You're Alone
ryan-1007531 January 2019
A serial killer (Tom Rolfing) is out killing soon-to-be-brides, so a more-than determined Detective Len Gamble (Lewis Arlt) is on his track. But, this killer is now lurking in the shadows of Amy Jensen's (Caitlin O'Heaney) life.
Sadly, just becomes another early 80s slasher, even though it had moments where it could have broken from that mediocrity. I found this low-budget film at times too similar to HALLOWEEN including the music by Alexander and Mark Peskanov which I found at times was completely inspired or copying John Carpenter's score. I think perhaps it may have been a better film if we followed the cops in their race to capture this serial killer. Also starring Tom Hanks (in his film debut) as Elliot (really an unimportant character), Dana Barron (in her film debut) and Paul Gleason.
Sadly, just becomes another early 80s slasher, even though it had moments where it could have broken from that mediocrity. I found this low-budget film at times too similar to HALLOWEEN including the music by Alexander and Mark Peskanov which I found at times was completely inspired or copying John Carpenter's score. I think perhaps it may have been a better film if we followed the cops in their race to capture this serial killer. Also starring Tom Hanks (in his film debut) as Elliot (really an unimportant character), Dana Barron (in her film debut) and Paul Gleason.
Wasn't feeling it
padawanmovies24 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not a horror movie junkie, if I scroll thru my tv menu and something sounds interesting, I watch it. I thought this would be a good view but alas it wasn't. I understand the whole "jilted groom goes after brides to be" however as someone else noted, a good chunk of the victims weren't brides at all! But my biggest question is: how did he know the girls were getting married? Did he wait outside bridal shops to see who came and went?? And I thought the ending sucked... For what reason did Phil have to be jealous enough to kill Tracy? Is the whole cycle of killing "fiances" supposed to start over with him?
My advice.... SKIP THIS!!!!
Surprisingly Good!
dauthier16 August 2019
This is one of those rare slasher films where you actually want nearly everyone to survive. I found myself halfway through this film thinking, I wish this was a comedy or a drama so I wouldn't have to watch these people die.
The slasher elements are actually the weakest part of the story in my opinion.
The lead final girl was a bizarre choice for the role. Something about those eyes. Very good actress though. The supporting cast is excellent. I thought I might finally see Tom Hanks get killed. Alas it wasn't to be.
If you've watched Halloween 700 times and have worn out The Burning, My Bloody Valentine and The Prowler, give this Suckerbugger a chance. You Shant regret it. Shant.
The lead final girl was a bizarre choice for the role. Something about those eyes. Very good actress though. The supporting cast is excellent. I thought I might finally see Tom Hanks get killed. Alas it wasn't to be.
If you've watched Halloween 700 times and have worn out The Burning, My Bloody Valentine and The Prowler, give this Suckerbugger a chance. You Shant regret it. Shant.
opening kill is kinda good
SnoopyStyle17 September 2017
Bride-to-be Marie hates horror movies but is watching one with her friend. Someone stabs her to death in the back. Police detective Len Gamble is called in. He figures that it's the same man who killed his bride-to-be years earlier. Meanwhile, Amy Jensen (Caitlin O'Heaney) is planning her marriage to Phil. Her ex Marvin won't let her go. Nancy and Joyce are her best friends. Someone starts killing the people around her.
It's a new age for horror but not every one can be Halloween. In fact, most are much less than the best ones that everybody remember. This is one of those. It's also much more inferior by the comparison. The opening movie theater kill is superb and lovely. However, the movie takes a long slide downwards but then Tom Hanks shows up. This is early Tom Hanks in his film debut. Leaving that aside, this movie is a basic serial killer flick without anything special. The killer has no distinguishing qualities. The lead is actually a fine actress but the acting overall is unmemorable. There is nothing here other than Hanks and the opening kill.
It's a new age for horror but not every one can be Halloween. In fact, most are much less than the best ones that everybody remember. This is one of those. It's also much more inferior by the comparison. The opening movie theater kill is superb and lovely. However, the movie takes a long slide downwards but then Tom Hanks shows up. This is early Tom Hanks in his film debut. Leaving that aside, this movie is a basic serial killer flick without anything special. The killer has no distinguishing qualities. The lead is actually a fine actress but the acting overall is unmemorable. There is nothing here other than Hanks and the opening kill.
Wedding Slasher
acidburn-1024 July 2007
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.
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.
Barely Adequate HALLOWEEN Clone
S.A.B.29 July 2000
Anyone who doubts how influential John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN was to the countless slasher films that followed soon thereafter should take a look at 1980's HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE. Perhaps more than any other slasher film, HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE tries to be a carbon copy of the 1978 slasher classic. The plot of HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE revolves around a psychopath who is murdering young brides-to-be. The killer soon focuses on bride-to-be Amy Jensen (Caitlin O'Heaney), who is conflicted over whether to go through with her marriage or get back together with her old flame Marvin (Don Scardino).
No matter how hard it tries to be, this film is no HALLOWEEN. The plot is full of holes and inconsistencies. Why does the killer target Amy Jensen? Why aren't most of the killer's victims brides-to-be? Those are a few of the many questions that are never answered in the film. Like HALLOWEEN, the film contains little graphic gore, but director Armand Mastroianni is no John Carpenter when it comes to building up suspense. And who can forget the film's score: it is such a carbon copy of Carpenter's from HALLOWEEN that I'm surprised no legal action was taken by Carpenter against the makers of the film.
Nevertheless, HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE is not as bad as many HALLOWEEN clones. The acting is acceptable for this type of film, and the chemistry between O'Heaney and Scardino in the lead roles is quite good. There are also a few good, original scenes, most notably the opening scene set in a movie theater which was blatantly plagiarized in SCREAM 2. The film also "boasts" the feature film debut of Tom Hanks.
Overall, HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE is watchable, but nothing worth going out of your way to see.
** out of ****
No matter how hard it tries to be, this film is no HALLOWEEN. The plot is full of holes and inconsistencies. Why does the killer target Amy Jensen? Why aren't most of the killer's victims brides-to-be? Those are a few of the many questions that are never answered in the film. Like HALLOWEEN, the film contains little graphic gore, but director Armand Mastroianni is no John Carpenter when it comes to building up suspense. And who can forget the film's score: it is such a carbon copy of Carpenter's from HALLOWEEN that I'm surprised no legal action was taken by Carpenter against the makers of the film.
Nevertheless, HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE is not as bad as many HALLOWEEN clones. The acting is acceptable for this type of film, and the chemistry between O'Heaney and Scardino in the lead roles is quite good. There are also a few good, original scenes, most notably the opening scene set in a movie theater which was blatantly plagiarized in SCREAM 2. The film also "boasts" the feature film debut of Tom Hanks.
Overall, HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE is watchable, but nothing worth going out of your way to see.
** out of ****
Underrated And Creepy
EvilOges20 February 2006
Sure, this movie is definitely a Halloween clone, but why should that mean it's bad? If Halloween is so good and this movie resembles it, then why not like this one as well? I don't understand why so many people have a problem with that. I mean, Halloween itself is a clone of another movie anyway (Black Christmas). So if you can accept that, then accept this one too.
Out of all the 80's slashers, He Knows You're Alone definitely ranks up there with the best and most underrated. Right from the clever opening sequence (which was later copied for the opening of Scream 2), I was instantly hooked. From there, it develops a quick and simple backstory where we learn that the killer was dumped by his fiancé so she could marry another man. And as a result, a few screws are pulled loose in his head and he begins hacking up a bunch of brides-to-be, which brings us to the main character of the film and her friends who he begins to stalk.
The pacing throughout the film was very well done. It built up a very effect creepy atmosphere that oozed with this sort of quiet dread that can really manage to make you feel uneasy. The characters were actually quite likable here, which is something of a rarity in the slasher genre, and they were very well acted (including Tom Hanks in his very first movie appearance). The great musical score, while it will definitely remind you of the Main Title theme of Halloween, also had it's own unique sound that made it very memorable and haunting. It really helped make the atmosphere even creepier, especially afterwards when you've finished watching the movie and the theme is still stuck in your head. Another major plus involves the killer. We barely get to see him and when we do, we're reduced to only a tight shot on his creepy bulging eyes. And it's pretty refreshing to see a killer's bare face since most slasher maniacs always wear a mask.
So if you're a fan of Halloween or other similar themed horror movies, then I would definitely recommend this one. It's a real shame that this one got overlooked during the whole slasher boom that Halloween started back in the 70's and 80's. It's pretty creepy and well worth watching overall.
Out of all the 80's slashers, He Knows You're Alone definitely ranks up there with the best and most underrated. Right from the clever opening sequence (which was later copied for the opening of Scream 2), I was instantly hooked. From there, it develops a quick and simple backstory where we learn that the killer was dumped by his fiancé so she could marry another man. And as a result, a few screws are pulled loose in his head and he begins hacking up a bunch of brides-to-be, which brings us to the main character of the film and her friends who he begins to stalk.
The pacing throughout the film was very well done. It built up a very effect creepy atmosphere that oozed with this sort of quiet dread that can really manage to make you feel uneasy. The characters were actually quite likable here, which is something of a rarity in the slasher genre, and they were very well acted (including Tom Hanks in his very first movie appearance). The great musical score, while it will definitely remind you of the Main Title theme of Halloween, also had it's own unique sound that made it very memorable and haunting. It really helped make the atmosphere even creepier, especially afterwards when you've finished watching the movie and the theme is still stuck in your head. Another major plus involves the killer. We barely get to see him and when we do, we're reduced to only a tight shot on his creepy bulging eyes. And it's pretty refreshing to see a killer's bare face since most slasher maniacs always wear a mask.
So if you're a fan of Halloween or other similar themed horror movies, then I would definitely recommend this one. It's a real shame that this one got overlooked during the whole slasher boom that Halloween started back in the 70's and 80's. It's pretty creepy and well worth watching overall.
Suspense Over Gore
juliamacon29 December 2019
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.
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.
A rainy night movie.
michaelRokeefe29 March 2000
Not much on substance. The subject is murder. A serial killer is stalking and killing brides-to-be. There are a few occasions you get to jump or flinch; but most of the time you wonder about the disjointed dialogue. This had a slim chance to be scarier. After the first scene in the theater, this thing fell apart.
The cast includes Lewis Arlt, Don Scardino, Elizabeth Kemp, Caitlin O'Hearney and a small part played by Tom Hanks, before his stardom.
The cast includes Lewis Arlt, Don Scardino, Elizabeth Kemp, Caitlin O'Hearney and a small part played by Tom Hanks, before his stardom.
Adequate, Mediocre and Watchable HALLOWEEN Clone.
eddy-281 August 2000
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.
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.
Reminded me of extended constipation ...and then disappointment with nothing more than a single PLOP!!
Ed-Shullivan2 March 2018
If you were not aware of it, this was Tom Hanks very first film where he received a film ending credit. I guess a lot of future stars made their debut in a low budget stinker of a wannabe horror film. In this film the director, Armand Mastroianni, just would not relent in his attempt to build up suspense and then continually let us down with a simple "oh, you have got to be kidding! Again?" The young and attractive actress Caitlin O'Heaney who plays the bride to be Amy Jensen believes she has a stalker following her and her friends and recent acquaintances are being murdered one by one by her unknown stalker which we get a few glimpses of, but who is he?
I honestly felt as if I was sitting on my royal throne constipated, waiting for something to happen, and as my suspense is displaced with discomfort waiting for a long overdue bowel movement suddenly I hear a little plop and realize the plop results in nothing more than the size of a peanut which has caused so much discomfort. In the case of "He Knows You're Alone" the agony continues throughout the 94 minutes (much longer than my discomfort waiting for a BM) and then the end of the film FINALLY comes and I ask myself "you have got to be kidding?!!!"
Don't waste your time seeing Tom Hanks in his film debut, he was much more impressive four (4) years later in director Ron Howard's 1984's film Splash.
I honestly felt as if I was sitting on my royal throne constipated, waiting for something to happen, and as my suspense is displaced with discomfort waiting for a long overdue bowel movement suddenly I hear a little plop and realize the plop results in nothing more than the size of a peanut which has caused so much discomfort. In the case of "He Knows You're Alone" the agony continues throughout the 94 minutes (much longer than my discomfort waiting for a BM) and then the end of the film FINALLY comes and I ask myself "you have got to be kidding?!!!"
Don't waste your time seeing Tom Hanks in his film debut, he was much more impressive four (4) years later in director Ron Howard's 1984's film Splash.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's Tom Hanks in his film debut.
lee_eisenberg20 June 2005
Whenever I'm traipsing around the horror section in Movie Madness (a video store in Portland), I point out to other people that "He Knows You're Alone" was Tom Hanks' film debut. That's really the only memorable thing about it. Otherwise, it's just your average stalker film. Specifically, a killer is butchering people right before a woman is about to get married. Other cast members who later became famous were James Rebhorn and Paul Gleason (who played Clarence Beaks in "Trading Places" and the principal in "The Breakfast Club"). Knowing that Tom Hanks became probably the most popular actor in the United States, I wonder whether or not the movie would have been any different had he played the killer. I would like to see him play a bad guy, just for a change of pace (in "Road to Perdition", he played a hit-man, but he was still the protagonist; I would like to see him play the antagonist).
Baffled!
sean_willetts4 July 2020
I'm totally baffled how people actually enjoyed this movie? It is absolutely terrible. The script didn't make sense. At some points I even looked at my wife and asked what the he'll they're even talking about, it just was not relevant.. The worst part is the acting though, I suspect like me, most people watched this to see Tom Hanks' first film. We only see him for around 5 minutes in total and for him to make a living out of film when he had so little screen time compared to the other actors, speaks volumes of how poor they were.
Effectively chilling early slasher.
Nightman8510 January 2008
One of the earlier followers of Halloween was this solid slasher, that certainly took its share of inspiration from Carpenter's masterpiece.
In Staton Island, NY a murderer is targeting brides-to-be. Will lovely Amy who's set to be married in just weeks become the killer's next victim?
He Knows You're Alone is an enjoyable slasher with a game cast (most notably the always charismatic Scardino). Of course this film is mostly remember as the acting debut of the wonderful Tom Hanks, who was said to have been so likable that the script was changed as to not have his character killed off.
Hanks aside, this film does have it's share of entertainment. The opening theater scene (which would later inspire the opening of Scream 2) is still one of the most gripping introductions for any slasher film. The stalking sequences are suspenseful, especially the climactic chase through the basement of the morgue. A nicely creepy atmosphere runs throughout the film too. Yet, unlike some slasher flicks this one is light on gore.
All in all, He Knows You're Alone is a good entry from the slasher heyday that genre fans should enjoy.
** 1/2 out of ****
In Staton Island, NY a murderer is targeting brides-to-be. Will lovely Amy who's set to be married in just weeks become the killer's next victim?
He Knows You're Alone is an enjoyable slasher with a game cast (most notably the always charismatic Scardino). Of course this film is mostly remember as the acting debut of the wonderful Tom Hanks, who was said to have been so likable that the script was changed as to not have his character killed off.
Hanks aside, this film does have it's share of entertainment. The opening theater scene (which would later inspire the opening of Scream 2) is still one of the most gripping introductions for any slasher film. The stalking sequences are suspenseful, especially the climactic chase through the basement of the morgue. A nicely creepy atmosphere runs throughout the film too. Yet, unlike some slasher flicks this one is light on gore.
All in all, He Knows You're Alone is a good entry from the slasher heyday that genre fans should enjoy.
** 1/2 out of ****
The wedding's off, but you're invited to the funeral.
BA_Harrison26 February 2014
A serial killer with a serious grudge against women about to get hitched stalks pretty bride-to-be Amy Jensen (Caitlin O'Heaney), killing her friends and acquaintances in the process.
He Knows You're Alone's rather neat film-within-a-film opening scene briefly suggests that the film might offer a little more fun and creativity than the average 80s slasher—which only goes to make it all the more disappointing when the film turns into one of the most uninspired and ineffective Halloween clones of the whole genre.
The killer POV shots, the menacing figure looming in the background before mysteriously vanishing, the suburban setting, the final chase scene, and the all too familiar score all smack of the 1978 slasher classic, but solid scares and edge-of-the-seat scenes of suspense are sorely lacking, director Armand Mastroianni's pedestrian handling of his material rarely having the desired effect.
A brief shower scene featuring a topless Elizabeth Kemp and an unconvincing severed head in a fish tank prevent the film from being a total loss, while the debut movie appearance of Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks (in a completely pointless bit part that adds nothing to the plot) adds a certain curiosity factor, but overall this is a far from memorable effort.
He Knows You're Alone's rather neat film-within-a-film opening scene briefly suggests that the film might offer a little more fun and creativity than the average 80s slasher—which only goes to make it all the more disappointing when the film turns into one of the most uninspired and ineffective Halloween clones of the whole genre.
The killer POV shots, the menacing figure looming in the background before mysteriously vanishing, the suburban setting, the final chase scene, and the all too familiar score all smack of the 1978 slasher classic, but solid scares and edge-of-the-seat scenes of suspense are sorely lacking, director Armand Mastroianni's pedestrian handling of his material rarely having the desired effect.
A brief shower scene featuring a topless Elizabeth Kemp and an unconvincing severed head in a fish tank prevent the film from being a total loss, while the debut movie appearance of Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks (in a completely pointless bit part that adds nothing to the plot) adds a certain curiosity factor, but overall this is a far from memorable effort.
Way cool 80's slasher film! Just seen it tonight after not seeing it for the past 26 yrs.
badgrrlkane19 February 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I love a lot of the different ways in the 80's slasher scripts tried to differ from each other while most were the same churned out bunch of young bimbos run too slow or go into a room/building alone when they know someone's either killing everyone they know or their's a killer loose. Now, this film doesn't differ that much from the others except that it's brides to be that are being massacred & it's the first starring role for the soon to be Academy Award winner Tom Hanks! But,this one isn't that hokey,it's actually scary. i have to say after having the "beejeebus!" scared out of me when i was 7 yrs old & I saw this for the 1st time, i still when someone sit behind me in a theater I turn around & at least glance at them as the girl killed at the beginning of the film, where she's watching a cheesy horror film & as she goes to the bathroom she realizes someone's stalking her, yet she can see no one. She sits down,complains to her girl-friend, who tells her it's just the movie making her paranoid & as she's watching, very silently a man sits in back of her & as the film on screen progresses with the girl getting gutted on-screen, he pulls one of the biggest knives out in a slasher film ever& proceeds to drive it through the movie seat into the girls back, while her girl-friend thinks she's hiding her eyes,the guy just as silently leaves, while the lady screams as she realizes her friend is dead. And, I've never been able to listen to the headphone, while smoking a J by myself in a house after this horror classic, as the main girl's friend after her friend states she thinks someone's following her, after seeing some weird guy looking at her in a carnival's funhouse, & she goes to take her 12 yr old niece home, her best bud takes a shower, hears a noise, mistakes it for her imagination,gets out of the shower, walks through the kitchen, as she passes the knifes mounted on the wall, you'll notice the humongous butcher knife is missing off of the wall, after it was there in a scene 3 or 4 mins earlier. She rolls up a doob, lays back to listen to soft 80's Canadian rock (I guess??) & is so rudely interrupted as the killer grabs her hair & pulls the huge knife up to her throat! Her friend,who's the bride-to-be comes home & is greeted with the wonderful & visually frightening scene of her best girlfriend's head floating in the fish tank! Definitely, left a major impact on me now as much as when i was 7, watching it. Don't be surprised to see Hollywood after remaking all of the more popular Horror classics, winds up going for gems like this to remake. The only thing I don't like about this film, is the rush job ending with the killer, & the fact that even though the heroine survives the Wedding killer, her jilted fiancée who she leaves for the guy who rescues her from the Wedding Killer, comes to her wedding to her hero & kills her at the end of the film, or so your led to believe, which was a way to try & leave it open to a sequel,i guess ? Anyway if you haven't seen this 1980 horror gem, rent or buy it! Very good for what it is. *** out of *****
Unoriginal slasher features Tom Hanks' film debut
a_chinn15 January 2018
Solidly made, if unoriginal, little slasher film about a bride-to-be having herself and her wedding party stalked by a deranged killer. As her friends and family are knocked off one-by-one, she's helped by a renegade cop who's own bride was murdered by the same killer. There's not a lot of gore and it's not all that scary, but you do get to see the film debut of Tom Hanks as a psychology student who has a scene where he tells the group about why people like to be scared at the movies. Overall, "He knows You're Alone" is completely unoriginal, but it's not as bad as you'd expect.
Good "Halloween" clone
preppy-319 December 2001
Amy (Caitlin O'Heaney) is preparing to get married. Unfortunately, her cheating boyfriend is out of town and a psycho (Tom Rolfing) with a thing for killing brides to be is in town. Feeling she's being stalked Amy welcomes the company of her ex-boyfriend Marvin (Don Scardino) and her girlfriends. This doesn't scare away the killer who proceeds to slash his way through her friends to get to her. Meanwhile a detective (Lewis Arlt) is hot on the killers trail. But will he get him in time to save Amy?
This was dismissed in 1980 as just another "Halloween" clone. It is, but it's one of the best. It's well-acted (especially by O'Heaney, Scardino, Rolfing and Arlt), suspenseful direction, quite a few enjoyable jolts and likable, realistic characters. The big surprise is how non-bloody all the murders are. You hear them, but you never see them. My guess is that MGM (who released this) wanted a tame horror film so all the gore was kept out. It's R rated just for language and brief female nudity. Also surprising is that the killer is portrayed by tall, handsome Tom Rolfing--he looks so good I had a hard time believing he was the killer. Also he's very imposing--one of the scariest scenes has him quietly approaching O'Heaney from behind after she finds a dead body. Also the then unknown Tom Hanks (in his film debut) has a small role.
Perfect movie for a Halloween night. Scary and well-done...worth seeing.
This was dismissed in 1980 as just another "Halloween" clone. It is, but it's one of the best. It's well-acted (especially by O'Heaney, Scardino, Rolfing and Arlt), suspenseful direction, quite a few enjoyable jolts and likable, realistic characters. The big surprise is how non-bloody all the murders are. You hear them, but you never see them. My guess is that MGM (who released this) wanted a tame horror film so all the gore was kept out. It's R rated just for language and brief female nudity. Also surprising is that the killer is portrayed by tall, handsome Tom Rolfing--he looks so good I had a hard time believing he was the killer. Also he's very imposing--one of the scariest scenes has him quietly approaching O'Heaney from behind after she finds a dead body. Also the then unknown Tom Hanks (in his film debut) has a small role.
Perfect movie for a Halloween night. Scary and well-done...worth seeing.
Horror Comes to Staten Island !
Rob-927 September 1998
This small little horror film was shot on Staten Island and is notorious for being Tom Hanks first film role. James Rebhorn who now seems to pop up in everything also has a role as a college professor in the film. The film tries hard to capture the spirit of John Carpenter's Halloween but is nothing more than a cheesy rip off. It's still worth watching and Staten Islanders will have fun looking at their home town in the early 80's. Look for New Dorp Lane and South Beach amusement park.
Decent Halloween rip off known for the first film role of Tom Hanks.
b_kite4 August 2022
The screen debut of Tom Hanks will always keep this in one's curious eye, but other than that and possibly creating the movie within a movie trope there's not much to offer in this rather dull slasher put out by MGM to capitalize on the success of Halloween. And boy does this thing ever straight up rip off Carpenter's film. From various scenes to the music, to the moves of the killer. However, first time director Armand Mastroianni does add some nice visuals and camera work in some scenes and the score is typically effective for a movie like this despite the rather bland kills. Decent watch.
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