YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME (2024) Movie Review
This tense single-location psychological horror offers a character study of a man driven mad from guilt and isolation, and the woman unlucky enough to find him.
You’ll Never Find Me is a psychological horror movie that seemed to fly under the radar when it was released last year, but it really got under my skin. It's also a great example of how you don't need a huge budget and flashy jump scares to create an effective film.
Here's my honest spoiler-free review to help you decide if it's a horror film for you.
In the movie, Patrick (Brendan Rock), a strange and lonely resident of a secluded mobile home, has his night completely disrupted by a mysterious young woman (Jordan Cowan) who knocks on the door seeking shelter from the violent storm that's swirling outside.
The longer the night wears on though, the more the young woman discovers about Patrick and the more difficult she finds it to leave. While she begins to question Patrick's intentions, Patrick has some questions of his own.
This movie is a single-location horror where everything takes place within the confines of this trailer, with the exception of a few very brief flashback scenes, and I think that added to the claustrophobia and paranoia that seeps throughout the entire film.
I saw a lot of reviews and discussion complaining that it's a slow burn and it's slow paced, but I didn't get that impression at all, to be honest. I think people tend to confuse pacing with action in a movie, especially in horror, and this movie admittedly doesn't have a lot of action in the first half to two-thirds of the runtime. Instead, it’s very dialog-driven, as these characters try to figure each other out, and you see the slow deterioration of Patrick as he loses his grip on reality. We ultimately find a character study on a man who’s become consumed by guilt for the horrible deeds of his past.
When it comes to the question of pacing, it's less about explicit action and more about this question: Are the things occurring throughout the movie serving to drive the plot forward?
So that said, I think the film is arguably paced pretty well.
Both actors did a fantastic job of interacting with each other in a way that felt so tense the entire time. You really feel that same awkward, uneasy feeling that the characters do as the mystery of what’s really happening here develops. It does require you to dial in and give it your full attention for it to be effective, but it did a fantastic job of keeping that tension at a steady rise as the movie goes on.
As for the sound design, there is very heavy use of background music throughout the film. While I think that's going to be potentially off-putting to some people, I actually kind of liked it. With the lack of physical scares and the more character-driven script, the audio did a really good job of helping to support that sense of anxiety that the characters were feeling.
I won't give away any spoilers, but I will say that I was slightly disappointed that I figured out part of the twist to this story pretty early on. So the climax fell a little flat for me, but I really love a bleak ending, and this movie definitely delivered on that. If you’re willing to put the phone down, turn off the lights, lock in, and give it the time and attention it deserves to immerse yourself into the film, I definitely think it's worth a watch.
If you're a fan of psychological horror, You'll Never Find Me is currently streaming on Shudder (find it here1). If you've seen it, jump in my comments and let me know what you thought!
Want to support my work, but not ready to become a monthly paid subscriber yet? I always appreciate any small donations so I can continue to bring you more horror movie content to love! Click the button below to make a small (and very much appreciated) donation to my coffee and movie fund!
Paid Subscribers Get Exclusive Access to Even More Horror Content!
If you love my Substack, please consider supporting my work by becoming a paid subscriber for only $5/month.
As a thank you, you’ll get special access to the following features:
A monthly newsletter straight to your inbox with a list of every new horror movie releasing each month (including indie film releases), along with a streaming service guide so you always have something to watch!
Access to the paid subscriber-only community chat so you can connect with other horror movie fans and talk about your favorite movies
Access to a growing streaming library of horror movies
And more special features exclusively for paid subscribers coming soon!
For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.
Black Box Horror is a reader-supported publication, so in the interest of transparency, you may encounter affiliate links on my site. When you purchase through these links, there’s no risk or additional cost to you. It simply provides another way to support my work so I can continue to bring you consistent, quality content.