You’ll Never Find Me (2024) Movie Review – Nothing but a half-baked horror thriller

Nothing but a half-baked horror thriller

It’s really disappointing when a movie has all the right elements but falls short of its potential. Take the Australian horror thriller ‘You Will Never Find Me’ by first-time directors Indiana Bell and Josiah Allen, for example. The film hit Shudder in March and starts off strong, with a ravishing first twenty minutes and a gripping climax.

The stormy night setting adds an authentic and eerie atmosphere to the film, supported by solid technical aspects. However, the story loses its way in the second act, failing to live up to its promising start. While the ambiance remains chilling throughout, the writing doesn’t quite make it a memorable experience.

Patrick lives alone in his trailer, irritated by the neighbouring kids who incessantly knock on his door and then run away. One dark and stormy night, he is startled by yet another knock. Annoyed, Patrick opens the door to find a shivering lady seeking shelter. Initially hesitant, she eventually accepts his offer of dry clothes and food.

With the thunderstorm raging outside, they both try to make themselves comfortable. However, despite their efforts, they remain guarded and distrustful of each other, their mutual suspicions apparent to the audience.

In addition to the tense atmosphere inside the trailer, there is a constant strange sound in the background, adding to the eerie ambiance. With neither of them having a friend to defend themselves if one were to attack the other, the tension between them was palpable. Amidst this uneasy situation, a sudden power cut changes the course of the story.

Narrated from the woman’s perspective, the film raises questions about her motives for being out in the darkest, stormiest night. Is the rain the only reason she sought shelter, or is there a more sinister agenda at play? Is it a crime thriller or a horror mystery? Apart from that, what is the role of those kids in the screenplay? To uncover the answers to these questions, you’ll have to watch ‘You Will Never Find Me’.

To make a suspense thriller really gripping, it’s vital to pick the right setting as a backdrop – like a rainforest, an old palace, or a stormy night. Here, the filmmakers made a smart choice with the eerie backdrop. They also deserve credit for their use of light, sound, and cameras, along with the entire technical team. The cinematography is a definite highlight of the storytelling.

The film has an interesting concept, but it falls short in terms of story development and screenwriting. While technical expertise can make a film look authentic, it’s not enough to make it engaging, especially for a horror thriller. The initial moments may promise something extraordinary, but the film loses its way and feels stagnant at times.

Based on its concept, technical execution, and performances, the film shines. However, entertainment largely hinges on solid screenwriting. Aspiring filmmakers can still learn a few things from it. For general audiences, though, the film may fall flat due to its weak screenwriting. It fails to deliver the expected thrills for its genre, making the one-and-a-half-hour runtime feel dull. 

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