You'll Never Find Me

The challenge with single-location thrillers or Chamber Pieces (as they call it in cinematic term) is the scarcity of inciting incidents.

Due to the narrative being confined to a singular space with limited number of characters and resources, there is minimal room to expand or experiment

As a result, stories often become repetitive, caught in tiresome cycles. Only exceptional performances from the ensemble and a captivating script with impressive dialogue writing can elevate these elements beyond the anticipated stillness.

I'm pleased to report that "You'll never find me" possesses all of the above qualities and more.

The remarkable cinematography and stunning sound design immediately draw us in from the opening shot, The narrative style keeps us on our toes, with morsels of information prompting us to question the unfolding events. Not to mention, the dynamic between the two central characters maintains our interest until the very end.

There were indeed some moments of ambiguity in the storyline that mandated clarification, I still consider it to be one of the standout psychological thrillers that came out in the recent times.

What a mixed experience this turned out to be! The writing constantly keeps you guessing for the first two acts, and the fantastic sound design and lighting choices add to the underlying mystique. The two lead performances are deliciously first-rate, making us question their inner motives with each passing scene.. at least for a good chunk of the film's first hour. The framing in these sections consists of several uncomfortable, unforeseen close-ups. But by the time it moves into the final act, a sudden wave of "oh no!" just takes over, replete with overblown edits and messy color patterns.

And to think, the same film effortlessly made me feel on edge during the initial (often philosophical) exchanges between the two characters, further deflates the experience overall. The woman character, especially, is oddly written. There are stretches where we as audiences are made to think she's harboring some dark secrets (or questioning if she's even a real person or just a manifestation?), and a little later, the same applies to the man. This leads to random jumps in character perspectives, albeit for short periods. Also, while the man's state of mind gets somewhat better detailing in the final act, the woman's side of things lacks a finite arc (..and was that even intentional?).

This year has seen the release of another slow-burn horror film that is underrated. This film is not only underrated but also quite entertaining but it's slightly close to a 7/10 unfortunately.

The cinematography is well-paced and smoothly delivered, ensuring a steady and unshaken viewing experience. This is undoubtedly one of the strangest horror films I've ever watched, but it's not bad. It could have been worse, but about 60 minutes in, the third act took an unexpected turn. I thought I was going to give up, but I persevered. 'You'll Never Find Me' almost feels like an experiment exploring the modern erosion of societal trust. Its themes and messages are as clear as day, even under the cover of night. Bell and Allen masterfully play with every situational expectation, from Patrick's reclusive behaviors to the innocent young woman who seems destined for a missing person's photo on a milk carton. There is enough bubbling tension and otherworldly suspense to keep us engaged, even if the concept tests our patience at times.

In Conclusion: 'You'll Never Find Me' finds horror in the mere existence of humanity. Despite this, it doesn't fail to be both relevant and horrifying. The third act, in particular, gave me a jolt, as if I'd been kicked in the boot, but it only added to the overall suspense and intrigue of the film."

Great first act of tension building and mysterious intrigue... starts to lose itself pretty quickly and by the final act it's a complete and total mess with zero resolve. There seems to be this recent trend of writers just completely unable to create an ending. In this case it feels a bit like they not only ran out of ideas, but budget as well- as the finale just ends up being a disjointed pile of cheap horror imagery. Great performances, and there's probably a movie in here somewhere that could have been great- sadly it just feels like it has no idea what it wants to be, and never recovers from the confusion. Ends up being a waste of time unfortunately.

If twisty turny stories are your thing, then look no further.

Is it an arthouse movie? Is it a horror? A psychological drama? Is it all of the above?

Without giving too much away, I would say that some people will hate the very slow and deliberate script, direction and editing of the 'action'.

I loved the to and fro of the dialogue in the first hour which makes you think the story may go one way or another. Then, when the movie makes its decision it is still compelling, The end was a little contrived for my liking but still, those with a little patience will love the movie.

Has to be said the acting is first class.