He Never Left

The best parts of the movie were the fall colors as the car drove through parts of Utah on the way to the motel. Carly has Gabe in the trunk of her car, as Gabe is a very wanted man. Carly pays for three nights at the motel. For almost the rest of the movie we are regaled with a very paranoid driven Gabe, who has to stay out of sight in the room. There are some flashbacks which fill in some of the background. There is some use of jump scares, and also seeing people that are not there. There is a scene where the motel manager tells Gabe that Carly's credit card didn't go through, something about the address being wrong. The last act seems a bit rushed and incoherent. But do stay for the credits, as much is revealed, and it also seems this movie got some crowdfunding. But this movie is best forgotten, and even not viewed.

This was a blind purchase primarily based on the artwork, granted I did read the synopsis and thought to myself this seemed promising.

Sadly it was not the case, it took a lifetime to get going, I will tip the hat to Colin Cunngham who plays Gabriel, he certainly brought his A game to the proceedings, but I found myself thinking, did his performance belong in another movie.

Strangely the artwork at first glance reminded me of The Town That Dreaded Sundown but as far as thrills and chills go, it was quite a numbing experience and storyline wise it was all over the place.

Proceed with caution.

In a town that's plagued by the memories of a killer in a mysterious pale mask, the setting takes place primarily in a small motel, where a wanted criminal has decided to post up from the police. Quickly you find out that not all is right in this motel as things begin to reveal themselves.

Actors give a solid performance that helps sell the uncomfortable uncertainty of this modern slasher.

The color grading, as well as the Halloween aesthetic, make for the perfect setting during the spooky season but doesn't limit this to a seasonal watch.

Simply, this was a beautifully shot, well acted, thrill ride.

He Never Left is a smaller film, and in some ways, I appreciate what it is trying to do. Production is decent. Acting is okay if a bit grating. Plot tries to be intriguing, but it comes across a bit to simplistic, even if everything isn't known up front. The plot combines two storylines that are unconnected but by the barest of a thread. And this connection doesn't make a difference in the overall story, just a weird coincidence. So why bother?

I wanted to like this more than I did. The bleak ending didn't help as I don't appreciate evil winning just to make for a "cute" ending. Hopefully, they won't make a sequal anytime soon. Tired characters didn't help as they just became lame tropes of standard wrong doers. But, the parts didn't add up to much. Oh well.

Witching Season Films has knocked it out of the park with their second feature film He Never Left. I was a fan of the series The Witching Season and their first feature They Live Inside Us. When I saw the Indiegogo campaign I knew I had to back it! That was a couple of years ago and let me tell you it was worth the wait!

The premise deals with Gabe on the run from the law and hides out in a motel in a town where a serial killer known has Pale Face disappeared decades ago. Only, Gabe is not alone in the hotel and Pale Face is making a long awaited return. I'm not giving more than that because you need to watch this!

This movie had everything you could want in a slasher film and while it has a different approach the film never loses its goal which is to give you an emotional and visceral experience.

Everything works on all levels. The filmmakers went to great lengths to give you a movie that feels right at home in your annual Halloween viewing. The cinematography is top notch and the colors just ooze October.

The music is first rate and has that 80's vibe which is always a plus. And it compliments a lot of scenes as well while adding depth of emotion in certain parts.

I could not have been more happier to have watched this!