Stars: Colin Cunningham, Jessica Staples, James Morris, Sean D. Hunter, David E. McMahon, Charla Bocchicchio, William McAllister, Jake Watters, Hailey Nebeker | Written by James Morris, Michael Ballif | Directed by James Morris
He Never Left opens with text that sets up the film’s mythology – a killer, known to locals as “Pale Face,” went on a rampage for a decade in Larsen City. But in 1997 the murders stopped, no one knows why, and the townsfolk still live in fear of that name…
After an intro that shows us a young woman, Charlotte (Hailey Nebeker), getting slaughtered in a motel room, a la Psycho, by a knife-wielding, mask-wearing psycho, we cut to the present day, as Carly (Jessica Staples) nervously checks into a motel. She should be nervous, for in the boot of her car is her boyfriend Gabe (Colin Cunningham), who is on the run from two US Marshals, Tim, played...
He Never Left opens with text that sets up the film’s mythology – a killer, known to locals as “Pale Face,” went on a rampage for a decade in Larsen City. But in 1997 the murders stopped, no one knows why, and the townsfolk still live in fear of that name…
After an intro that shows us a young woman, Charlotte (Hailey Nebeker), getting slaughtered in a motel room, a la Psycho, by a knife-wielding, mask-wearing psycho, we cut to the present day, as Carly (Jessica Staples) nervously checks into a motel. She should be nervous, for in the boot of her car is her boyfriend Gabe (Colin Cunningham), who is on the run from two US Marshals, Tim, played...
- 5/13/2025
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
He Never Left is an interesting horror film because it tries to be both a slasher horror movie and a philosophical drama simultaneously. Most horror movies these days follow the same tired formulae. This film, released amid the clamor of the genre’s most recent offers, transports viewers to the eerie world of Larsen City, a town haunted by both the ghosts of its residents’ pasts and the specter of a masked killer. The film’s narrative focuses on Gabriel, a runaway stuck between guilt and despair and trying to find safety in a motel that serves as both a safe place to stay and a prison.
James Morris, who wrote the script with Michael Ballif and Colin Cunningham, directed He Never Left, which defies the tropes of conventional slasher films. It weaves together the psychological battles of its characters with visceral horror, presenting a Gothic tapestry that elevates the genre beyond shock value.
James Morris, who wrote the script with Michael Ballif and Colin Cunningham, directed He Never Left, which defies the tropes of conventional slasher films. It weaves together the psychological battles of its characters with visceral horror, presenting a Gothic tapestry that elevates the genre beyond shock value.
- 1/5/2025
- by Shahrbanoo Golmohamadi
- Gazettely
The following contains minor spoilers for He Never Left, which releases on Nov. 5, 2024.
With October being "the Halloween season," many independent horror filmmakers seek to capitalize on the festive month to release their movies, alongside the bigger staples like the Halloween franchise. Such was the case with Terrifier 3 and Smile 2, both of which are sequels to highly successful debut films for their respective directors. Between the two, only Smile 2 got mainstream distribution via Paramount Pictures, while Terrifier 3 was distributed by Cineverse.
Joining the independent horror scene with another directorial film debut is James Morris with He Never Left. Having previously directed The Witching Season television series and appeared as an actor in other independent horror projects, Morris aims for a 1980s slasher vibe with He Never Left. From the story to the visuals to the music and setting, Morris' film recaptures the nostalgia for films like...
With October being "the Halloween season," many independent horror filmmakers seek to capitalize on the festive month to release their movies, alongside the bigger staples like the Halloween franchise. Such was the case with Terrifier 3 and Smile 2, both of which are sequels to highly successful debut films for their respective directors. Between the two, only Smile 2 got mainstream distribution via Paramount Pictures, while Terrifier 3 was distributed by Cineverse.
Joining the independent horror scene with another directorial film debut is James Morris with He Never Left. Having previously directed The Witching Season television series and appeared as an actor in other independent horror projects, Morris aims for a 1980s slasher vibe with He Never Left. From the story to the visuals to the music and setting, Morris' film recaptures the nostalgia for films like...
- 11/5/2024
- by Diane Darcy
- CBR
Spooky season doesn’t have to end just because we exit the month of October. Epic Pictures’ specialty horror label Dread is set to continue the Halloween into November by giving the horror film He Never Left a limited theatrical release on November 1st, with a VOD release following on November 5th. To help you decide whether or not you want to get your November started with He Never Left, we have the trailer embedded above.
Directed by James Morris, who previously worked on the TV series The Witching Season, He Never Left has the following synopsis: After hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining motel room, a federal fugitive and his girlfriend become targets of the notorious “Pale Face” killer, whose legend has haunted the local community for decades. Morris crafted the story with Colin Cunningham and The Witching Season creator Michael Ballif. Morris and Ballif produced the film together.
Directed by James Morris, who previously worked on the TV series The Witching Season, He Never Left has the following synopsis: After hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining motel room, a federal fugitive and his girlfriend become targets of the notorious “Pale Face” killer, whose legend has haunted the local community for decades. Morris crafted the story with Colin Cunningham and The Witching Season creator Michael Ballif. Morris and Ballif produced the film together.
- 10/22/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Up next from Epic Pictures’ specialty horror label Dread is the Halloween-set slasher movie He Never Left, which is coming to select theaters November 1 & VOD November 5.
He Never Left is the second feature film produced by Witching Season Films. The film was partially funded by enthusiastic fans in a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign and was shot entirely on location in Fairview, Utah and Spanish Fork, Utah.
In the upcoming slasher movie, “After hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining motel room, a federal fugitive and his girlfriend become targets of the notorious “Pale Face” killer, whose legend has haunted the local community for decades.”
“I’m hopeful that He Never Left will resonate with audiences on a deeper level than what they might expect,” says writer, director, and co-star James Morris. Co-writer and star Colin Cunningham adds in his own statement, “These are people already navigating their own personal hell,...
He Never Left is the second feature film produced by Witching Season Films. The film was partially funded by enthusiastic fans in a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign and was shot entirely on location in Fairview, Utah and Spanish Fork, Utah.
In the upcoming slasher movie, “After hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining motel room, a federal fugitive and his girlfriend become targets of the notorious “Pale Face” killer, whose legend has haunted the local community for decades.”
“I’m hopeful that He Never Left will resonate with audiences on a deeper level than what they might expect,” says writer, director, and co-star James Morris. Co-writer and star Colin Cunningham adds in his own statement, “These are people already navigating their own personal hell,...
- 10/7/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
From director / co-writer James Morris, He Never Left comes to limited theaters and digital this November from Dread, and we have an exlusive look at the new teaser trailer!
"After hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining motel room, a federal fugitive and his girlfriend become targets of the notorious "Pale Face" killer, whose legend has haunted the local community for decades."
Directed By: James Morris (The Witching Season)
Written By: James Morris, Michael Ballif, Colin Cunningham
Produced By: Michael Ballif and James Morris
Starring: Colin Cunningham, Jessica Staples, James Morris (The Witching Season), Sean Hunter, Charla Bocchicchio, David E. McMahon, Jake Watters, Will McAllister
The post Exclusive Teaser Trailer Premiere of James Morris’ He Never Left appeared first on Daily Dead.
"After hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining motel room, a federal fugitive and his girlfriend become targets of the notorious "Pale Face" killer, whose legend has haunted the local community for decades."
Directed By: James Morris (The Witching Season)
Written By: James Morris, Michael Ballif, Colin Cunningham
Produced By: Michael Ballif and James Morris
Starring: Colin Cunningham, Jessica Staples, James Morris (The Witching Season), Sean Hunter, Charla Bocchicchio, David E. McMahon, Jake Watters, Will McAllister
The post Exclusive Teaser Trailer Premiere of James Morris’ He Never Left appeared first on Daily Dead.
- 9/19/2024
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Stars: Colin Cunningham, Jessica Staples, James Morris, Sean D. Hunter, David E. McMahon, Charla Bocchicchio, William McAllister, Jake Watters, Hailey Nebeker | Written by James Morris, Michael Ballif | Directed by James Morris
He Never Left opens with text that sets up the film’s mythology – a killer, known to locals as “Pale Face,” went on a rampage for a decade in Larsen City. But in 1997 the murders stopped, no one knows why and the townsfolk still live in fear of that name…
After an intro that shows us a young woman, Charlotte (Hailey Nebeker), getting slaughtered in a motel room, a la Psycho, by a knife-wielding, mask-wearing psycho we cut to the present day, as Carly (Jessica Staples) nervously checks into a motel. She should be nervous, for in the boot of her car is her boyfriend Gabe (Colin Cunningham), who is on the run from two US Marshals, Tim, played...
He Never Left opens with text that sets up the film’s mythology – a killer, known to locals as “Pale Face,” went on a rampage for a decade in Larsen City. But in 1997 the murders stopped, no one knows why and the townsfolk still live in fear of that name…
After an intro that shows us a young woman, Charlotte (Hailey Nebeker), getting slaughtered in a motel room, a la Psycho, by a knife-wielding, mask-wearing psycho we cut to the present day, as Carly (Jessica Staples) nervously checks into a motel. She should be nervous, for in the boot of her car is her boyfriend Gabe (Colin Cunningham), who is on the run from two US Marshals, Tim, played...
- 2/29/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Witching Season Films, a Utah-based horror production company, has shared with Bloody Disgusting the first teaser-trailer and images for its second feature film, He Never Left.
Written and directed by James Morris, He Never Left tells the story of Gabriel, a fugitive on the run from the U.S. marshals. With help from his girlfriend, Carly, Gabriel takes refuge in an old motel. But after hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining room, the two inadvertently become targets of the notorious “Pale Face” killer, whose legend has haunted the local community for decades.
The film stars veteran actor Colin Cunningham, who met Morris at the Horrorfest Film Festival in the fall of 2020. After reading an early draft of the
screenplay, Cunningham worked closely with Morris and Witching Season Films Founder Michael Ballif as they prepared for production, which began in October 2021 and wrapped in June 2022.
The film also stars Jessica Staples,...
Written and directed by James Morris, He Never Left tells the story of Gabriel, a fugitive on the run from the U.S. marshals. With help from his girlfriend, Carly, Gabriel takes refuge in an old motel. But after hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining room, the two inadvertently become targets of the notorious “Pale Face” killer, whose legend has haunted the local community for decades.
The film stars veteran actor Colin Cunningham, who met Morris at the Horrorfest Film Festival in the fall of 2020. After reading an early draft of the
screenplay, Cunningham worked closely with Morris and Witching Season Films Founder Michael Ballif as they prepared for production, which began in October 2021 and wrapped in June 2022.
The film also stars Jessica Staples,...
- 10/24/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
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