UNIT Teases Haunting Psychological Short Film ‘Alone'

UNIT, the Fitzrovia-based boutique shortform and longform creative studio, collaborated with Affecting Films in association with Everyone Content to complete Full Picture Post and Sound Design for Alone, a gripping psychological short film set to begin the festival circuit in 2025.

Alone explores the complex themes of loneliness and human disconnect in modern society. The film, starring Lucy Doyle, begins with scenes of the crowded London rush hour, where bodies are piled together but without eye contact or interaction. Everyone is committed to staying in their own worlds, distracted by their various devices. This bustling city environment is later contrasted with scenes of desolation as the lead character finds herself alone in the eerily empty city.

Written and directed by Shian Denovan, Alone is an Affecting Films production in association with Everyone Content, produced by Edward Whelan, executive produced by Paul Garrad, with editor and post producer Ramon Ricard essential to creating the haunting narrative.

UNIT post producer Nell Simmonds worked closely with UNIT colourist Harry Shelton, UNIT creative director of Sound Jamie Thomas and UNIT VFX artists Rob Ellis and Ian Baker to ensure that every technical element supported the film’s emotional depth.

UNIT’s post-production team artfully wove together the compelling visuals with a tension-building sound design that incorporated unsettling moments of quiet alongside disquieting drones to create a pervasive sense of unease. The film’s original soundtrack was composed by Mel Guérison, with UNIT creative director of Sound Jamie Thomas creating an eerie soundscape which drove the emotional and psychological tension that runs throughout the film.

Editor and post producer Ramon Ricard, through his production company Everyone Content, has been working with UNIT for many years. His boutique company continues to develop new narrative projects for film and television while maintaining a strong presence in branded content.

“UNIT has been a trusted post-production partner for me across a wide range of projects,” said Ramon. ‘Their ability to elevate every production with top-tier post expertise has made them an invaluable creative ally. Even with this long-standing relationship, I was hesitant to approach them with Alone, given its independent nature and limited budget. As expected, UNIT went above and beyond, generously lending their talent and resources to refine and enhance the film in ways that exceeded expectations. It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with Shian and the UNIT team once again to bring this new project to life.”

Director Shian Denovan explained, “Alone is a haunting psychological thriller exploring underlying themes of loneliness and the disconnect many of us feel from one another in our modern world. I wanted to explore the way that we can feel lonely even when surrounded by others… How sometimes crowded cities filled with our fellow humans can in fact leave us feeling more isolated than ever.

Alone has been a labour of love, and I couldn’t have asked for a better team to bring my vision to life. UNIT’s post-production work has been integral to crafting the eerie atmosphere that defines the film. Their attention to detail and technical expertise has elevated every aspect of the project.”

UNIT colourist Harry Shelton noted, “The visual tone of Alone was key to the story’s impact, and it was important that the colour grade supported the shifting moods of the film. From the crowded city scenes to the desolate streets, our work aimed to emphasize the emotional and psychological tension that runs throughout the film.”

UNIT creative director of Sound Jamie Thomas added, “It was important to get across the feeling of loneliness in the soundscape - rather than making it desolate, the sounds of an empty city were brought to the fore, essential in making the space inhabited by Lucy seem endless. It was a fun challenge to not have to rely on city hubbub to fill in the gaps and really allowed us to play with the sounds you wouldn’t normally hear in a city.”

For more information on UNIT Studios, visit unit.tv.