Horror is such a versatile genre, and when it finds its sweet spot, it can be electrifying, emotional, and chilling in equal measure. You’ll Never Find Me is all of these things and more, and its ending will evoke such a visceral reaction of shock and awe. Directed by Josiah Allen and Indianna Bell (who also wrote the screenplay), You’ll Never Find Me is an intimate story, one that is carried by an intense ongoing exchange between two characters that will rattle your nerves and keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
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Patrick (Brendan Rock) is a solitary, paranoid man who lives in a mobile home inside a caravan park. He often hears knocking on his front door, but there’s no one there when he opens it. The sound of creaking echo through the ceiling in his home as the wind blows harshly amidst a raging storm that won’t settle down. At two in the morning, Patrick’s solitude is disrupted by a loud banging on the door. He opens it to find a young woman (Jordan Cowan) in need of assistance, having been at the beach when the storm hit. Patrick invites her inside, though the visitor is visibly cautious of Patrick, who is kind at times and distant and cold at others. As the night goes on, and the two get to know each other better, things take an unexpected turn.

Allen and Bell masterfully create an atmosphere that is immediately unsettling. The score by Darren Lim is disquieting, raising the hairs on your arms while preparing you for what comes next. With only two characters in a small space, You’ll Never Find Me often feels claustrophobic, and the direction makes good use of the setting as the characters shift from one space to the next. In a film that is so dialogue-heavy, the momentum could have easily been lost, but the filmmakers consistently find new ways to build the tension without losing steam.

The conversations themselves are engrossing. As the characters, who already don’t trust each other, find new holes to pick at in each of their stories, we become more invested in them and in what’s going on. With the storm raging on in the background, everything within becomes heightened, and it’s hard to gauge who is telling the truth or what’s happening. Clues are cleverly planted throughout — Cowan’s character finding the earring she was wearing, Patrick wondering why she looks so familiar are among a few. These clues come together for an explosive finale that is simultaneously daunting, tragic, and exhilarating. The horror elements feel sinister here, with each character seemingly ready to do something drastic at any given point. It’s a nail-biting experience.

The technical and storytelling aspects are excellent, as are Rock and Cowan’s performances. Rock, in particular, is very calculated in his role. He transforms Patrick from an amiable, lonely guy into a bitter, terrifying one depending on the scene. His performance is gripping, and Rock makes it easy to flip-flop between trusting Patrick to doubting him. Cowan is equally riveting in her role, hesitant yet firm, cautious but trusting. She spends the majority of the film walking on eggshells, and her eyes and body language say everything her voice cannot. Together, the actors take us on a journey through their characters’ intense, somewhat dangerous interactions, and their performances will leave you breathless.

You’ll Never Find Me is an excellent, audacious entry to the horror genre. It’s disconcerting and thrilling, with an emotional center and something to say. Allen and Bell confidently craft an effective story that will stay with you long after it’s over. The performances are top-notch, and the horror aspects, which settle in the heart and don’t abate, are excellently utilized. This is the kind of story that will have you experiencing a myriad of emotions while provoking thought — the mark of a great film.

You’ll Never Find Me screened at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. The film is 96 minutes long and not yet rated.