In an isolated mountain village in 19th century Macedonia, a young girl is kidnapped and then transformed into a witch by an ancient spirit.
Before attending the press screening, I deliberately avoided knowing anything about “You Won’t Be Alone.” I saw the trailer, and it intrigued me, so I went into the screening with little to no information about its overall narrative. First and foremost, this is a folk horror slow burn; it develops gradually and methodically, allowing you to soak up the magnificent Serbian ambiance and stellar performances. While Noomi Rapace might be the only name you recognize, the acting by the entire cast is hauntingly beautiful and memorable.
“You Won’t Be Alone” tells the story of shape-shifting witch Maria (Anamaria Marinca), who is caught trying to eat a baby by its mother, Yoana (Kamka Tocinovski). She lives alone with her newborn, named Nevena, in the Macedonian wilderness and makes a deal with Maria; instead of eating the baby, she allows Yoana to raise the child until she is sixteen, at which point she will hand her over. Maria agrees, and to keep her safe, Yoana hides her in a sacred cave, where she grows up knowing nothing of what lies beyond the cave’s walls. Once she turns sixteen, however, Maria appears, and while Yoana tries to stop her, she fails. Maria takes Nevena (Sara Klimoska) and transforms her into a witch, a subordinate to do whatever she desires.
As both witches traverse the vast Macedonian woodlands, Nevena, discovering the world for the first time, can’t help but be fascinated by human behavior. Watching people interact, laughing, smiling, talking, crying, is unbearable, and she tries to connect with a young woman but accidentally kills her. To hide the crime, she must consume the person or animal’s organs and assimilate them to elude suspicion but even taking on the physical appearance of the entity doesn’t give Nevena any more insight into human behavior than when she was on the outside.
After taking on several identities, she finally settles on a young girl who fell to her death from a precipice. When her family and friends come to check on her, ecstatic that she is alive but unaware of her new rebirth, they smother her in love and kisses. Over time, Nevena becomes familiar with love, kindness, and human touch. Instead of taking on another form, she decides to grow old in her new skin and eventually experiences falling in love, sex, and childbirth. Still, when she thinks life can’t get any better, Maria turns up and threatens to destroy everything she has worked so hard to achieve.
“You Won’t Be Alone” doesn’t shy away from its random moments of violence, but it is presented so that we experience it along with Nevena. It becomes more of a curiosity than a straight-up horror trope. Putting yourself in her shoes gives you a great perspective on life in general and the everyday things we can take for granted; love, passion, closeness, intimacy, all the things Nevena grew up without but so desperately desired. Sara Klimoska plays Nevena with wide-eyed wonderment and naiveté; her head-tilting and constant inquisitiveness capture a childlike simplicity that you can’t help but empathize with. Watching Nevena early on laughing out loud with some of her friends but not understanding the concept behind it is very uncomfortable and humorous at the same time.
Incapable of comprehending the notion behind crying, the tears flow when she eventually loses someone close to her. She finally becomes aware of the physical sensation of water coming from her eyes and the emotional heartbreak accompanying her tears, reverberating to her soul. We feel her loss too and cry with her. “You Won’t Be Alone” takes the folk horror genre and adds a fresh and creative aspect, deliberately taking its time but ultimately rewarding those who see it through to its satisfying conclusion.
In Theaters Friday, April 1st
