You'll Never Find Me

There will be no middle ground on this one. If you don't like slow burns, and psychological horror then move on. Other viewers will be in for a treat.

There are fair comparisons to "Maniac," but unlike the 1980 cult classic, I don't think you'll see the twist coming. Brendan Rock is phenomenal in the lead role of Patrick. The cat & mouse game of paranoia between him and Jordan Cowan keeps you guessing.

No spoilers here, but stick with the film to the end. It is absolutely a slow burn. But the third act grabs ahold, takes you on a psychotic ride, and makes you ask "What the Hell is happening?!"

Then it all comers together in a really clever ending. Everything was laid out for you the whole time. Just pay attention and enjoy.

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.

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?).

Once again, a glorious reminder that in order to be impactful, horror movies don't need a big budget. "You'll Never Find Me" effortlessly proves this point, delivering a very tense and impactful experience that lingers long after the credits roll. "You'll Never Find Me" doesn't rely on cheap jump scares; instead, it builds a slow-burning tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This Australian horror gem is a testament to the fact that a well-crafted story, combined with thoughtful direction and a dedicated cast, can create an atmosphere of dread and suspense that rivals any blockbuster production. It's such a joy seeing a passion project work so well on all levels.

I feel sorry for those who can't develop critical thinking and understand the meaning behind what's shown to them.

This movie is meant for those who can catch simple details AND PAY ATTENTION to the dialog. Everything you'll need to know is there, between the lines: the reason why Patrick thinks the woman's face is familliar, the reason why the woman "changes" her story (where she came from, why she initially says she wants a lift...).

The movie got me hooked till the very ending, when it all made sense.

For me it's a solid 7, they made the best they could with what they had, and succeeded....