He Never Left

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.

This is a film I brought based on the description at the same time as heart eyes and hoped in a similer vein it would be just as good. Unfortunatly though I was very wrong. This woman called carley goes to a motel, but smuggles her boyfriend in the trunk because his on the run from the cops because of murder. The guy running the place seems a little creepy but not a whole lot really happens here in terms of horror. This becomes more of a thriller and any attmept at horror is null void. The mask however was creepy enough. Acting not the worst ive seen in these typs of films either. I was just overall let down by this one.

Seeing the 8, 9, 10 ratings and reviews I couldn't not express my view of this film.

I guess technically it was mediocre. The plot was intrresting and could have worked.

What canceled out any positives were the preposterous breaks in continuity.

Every time the dialog negated what was established moments earlier was physically jarring.

After the 3rd or 4th total break in the established story, I just could not take it anymore.

I stopped to write this half way through.

If you watch this, you will know what I'm talking about assuming you follow what has been established.

Literally mind boggling.

While I had never heard about this 2023 horror movie titled "He Never Left", from director James Morris, of course I had to watch it as I stumbled upon it here in 2025, given my love of all things horror.

From the movie's synopsis, I was figuring that I would be in for a masked slasher type of horror movie, but instead I found myself in for a supernatural horror movie I guess, as there was a lot of imaginary things going on apparently. And truth be told, the writers James Morris, Michael Ballif and Colin Cunningham, with the latter also starring in the movie, failed to pen down a properly entertaining script. I found the narrative boring and uneventful, and I struggled to keep feigning an interest in it, but it was a losing uphill battle.

I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, and that was actually a nice thing, as I enjoy watching unfamiliar talents and faces on the screen. And despite of the script being a swing and a miss, then I will say that the acting performances were fair.

As for "He Never Left" being a horror movie, well, don't get your hopes up. Perhaps if you are a newcomer to the horror genre then you might find this movie scary. But I have been watching horror movies for more than 40 years, so this was a mere walk in the park. And a boring one at that.

Semi-watchable, sure, but "He Never Left" was not a great movie, not even by a longshot. It was a struggle to sit through, and it is definitely not a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time. Nor is it a movie that I will recommend to horror fans.

My rating of director James Morris's 2023 horror movie "He Never Left" lands on a generous four out of ten stars.

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.