He Never Died

If you didn't know Henry Rollins before this, you will know him after you watch this. Of course your enjoyment of the movie is not a given. You have to have a heart for low budget movies and movies that might therefor have a flaw or two from the get-go. But if you're willing to take this ride, then the story and all its tweaks and surprises (if you haven't spoiled it for yourself by reading too much about it) will more than entertain you.

The title of course is a bit of a giveaway, though we don't exactly know why. The appearance of a character remains mysterious too, as many other aspects. But fear not, most will be revealed by the end of the movie. Also the role of that said character. Sometimes it's clearer than you think. Good action, nice ideas

"My landlord thought I was robbing my own apartment. Really? Isn't your landlord, like, 90 years old?"

A brilliant, original horror. That's what you might say after watching "He never died". A subtle mix of sometimes gory images and clever humor. And this shown in an even surprising way by Henry Rollins, the former front-man of the legendary punk band "Black flag". A bundle of muscles who already surprised in the past with his poetry. And now he shows that he's also capable to take a leading role for his account. His stoic calmness and indifference create hilarious situations several times. And the story on his own is contrived in such an original way. I watched with amazement and after a while I was wondering what the hell it was about anyway. Did it have something to do with vampires? Was Jack a solitary zombie (due to his grayish look) who attempts to remain anonymous? And what about those demonic and satanic sounds he sometimes makes?

Jack (Henry Rollins) seems depressed and drags on through life as a worn out man. The only things he does to fill his days is sleep, eat something in the same small restaurant and occasionally play bingo among the elderly. Waitress Cara (Kate Greenhouse) tries to change Jack's fatalistic attitude. But she isn't really successful in doing that. Jack clearly isn't enthusiastic about her flirting. Most of the time a quiet, nondescript look is his answer to it and then he turns his back on her without blinking. Also, his daughter Andrea (Jordan Todosey), who appeared out of nowhere, can't break down this erected wall of aloofness. It's obvious Jack isn't an ordinary, average citizen. The title of the film, of course, reveals much and isn't really a spoiler. Apparently Jack is immortal and needs his dose of blood on a regular base. When his blood supplier Jeremy (Booboo Stewart) (an intern who works in a hospital, I suppose) runs into trouble with a local gang of criminals, he's no longer able to provide Jack with the much needed blood. After his daughter is being kidnapped, all hell breaks loose with the obvious casualties. Except Jack, of course ...

Rollins is a performer and this movie was the appropriate stage for him. His imperturbable gaze and brute force gave him a Schwarzenegger-like appearance. The limited conversations with brief, evasive answers contributed to the overall tone of this absurd film. A fatal head injury made such an impression on him as a tiny splinter in his finger. Unmoved he uses pliers to treat the injuries. At that time I wondered whether it was meant humorously or creepy. He's an emotionless bloke who storms through a decaying society like a bulldozer, full of rage and aggressiveness. At first Jack seems to be a dull figure, but when his true identity is revealed in the end, his way of reacting and his world-weariness is justified.

I'm afraid that "He never died" will only appeal to a limited audience . And I belong to that limited audience. I appreciate such an absurd horror filled with brutal violence and a special storyline once and a while. The subtle humor was enjoyable. And above all, they made sure it didn't become a parody. "He never died" exceeds all horror-comedy up to now. And probably until eternity ...

He Never Died picked the perfect man to star in this movie. I don't know if Henry Rollins was the filmmaker's choice for the role or the role just fits him like a tailored suit, but it feels so Rollins.

It's a low budget movie about monsters and demons done well. The filmmakers did a lot with what little they had. No huge special visual effects or making up. Usual when movies are unable to fit that into the budget it makes the whole thing cheesy but they came up with an excellent story plot that makes up for it. Plus, the tone the movie was laid out in adds depth (and some cool violent scenes) that takes the place of monster effects as well.

The technical film making does not look cheap like I was expecting for a movie in this caliber. It was a stellar production.

A stellar production that relied greatly on the wonderful acting being done, especially by Rollins himself. An easy task possibly, as it seems he's playing a man he can relate to on a level.

I saw Rollins star in the sequel to Wrong Turn and just like that movie, he was the best part of the experience, but unlike Wrong turn 2, He Never Died has more than Rollins going for it.

Jack (Henry Rollins) has developed a routine for his life that he sticks to in order to avoid giving into the impulse to engage in cannibalism. He stays away from society other than regular trips to a local diner, bingo games, and to the hospital, where he purchases blood from a hospital intern, Jeremy (Booboo Stewart).

Although there is a little bit of some bad acting (especially characters in the first 10 minutes), this seems to clear up. Rollins is a dominating force, which is no surprise. He has always been great at commanding attention, and this is a character that is well-suited for him.

I am confused about this being listed as a comedy. Some reviewers even say it is "laugh out loud funny", but I just didn't see it. There are some moments of dark humor, but as a whole it really doesn't play as a comedy and I think it would be better if they didn't suggest that it was. Let the film speak for itself.

Most disappointing is how the film is essentially a pilot for a miniseries. I love the characters, love the Biblical themes they were going for, but it was clear this movie was not scripted to be wrapped up in one movie. If the miniseries were to fall through, the movie would suffer as a result. I see that as a shortcoming, though it is one that could yet be rectified.

The secluded anti-social Jack (Henry Rollins) spends most of the time at home sleeping and watching television. Every now and then he meets the hospital intern Jeremy (Booboo Stewart) to buy blood; he goes to the nearby diner where he is attended by the waitress Cara (Kate Greenhouse) that likes him; and he plays bingo in the local church. Out of the blue, he receives a phone call from his former girlfriend that asks him to meet their daughter Andrea (Jordan Todosey) in a bar. He brings Andrea home, breaking his routine and turning his life upside-down. When she is abducted by a local mafia, Jack is forced to unleash his latent violence.

"He Never Died" is a strange movie that has potential of cult-movie. The dark humor is excellent and Henry Rollins has top-notch performance in the role of a weird cannibal creature that never dies. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Ele Nunca Morre" ("He Never Dies")