Kate Trefry, a staff writer and story editor on Stranger Things who also worked on Fear Street 1666, brings to life a creepy story about being left home alone at night—from an adult’s perspective.
The short film opens with a pH๏τographer named Lucy (Maika Monroe) kissing her husband, played by Joe Keery, as he leaves for a late night shift at the hospital. She has a three-step guide for surviving her lonely evening. The first step is to turn on all the lights and the TV.
The second is to make a fun plan, hers is to eat cereal, paint her nails, and organize her studio.
She also tells herself “no slipping into old habits, no drinking, no smoking, no downers, and stick to the plan.” The third step…well, watch and see. As the night goes on, Lucy’s real life horrors manifest in insidious forms and she’s forced to confront uncomfortable truths about her life, marriage, and the choices she has made. “Call something harmless. Watch it destroy you.”
Truly, the only bad thing about this short film is that it didn’t last any longer. How To Be Alone is visually stunning psychological horror with exquisite cinematography. It’s a fun movie that keeps the viewer on edge for the entirety of its 13 minute runtime.
