You’ll Never Find Me (2024)

You’ll Never Find Me throws you headfirst into a suspenseful game of cat and mouse. Patrick (Brendan Rock), a recluse dwelling in a remote mobile home in a caravan park, is startled by a knock on his door one stormy night. There stands a mysterious young woman, the Visitor (Jordan Cowan), drenched and desperate for help. Patrick hesitantly lets her in, but as the power cuts out and the night deepens, a chilling distrust creeps in. Both harbour secrets, and the line between victim and villain blurs with every passing hour.

This Australian slow-burn chiller is reminiscent of classic Hitchcockian thrillers, relying on building tension and psychological unease rather than jump scares. The film excels in its simplicity. Confined to a single location—Patrick’s cluttered mobile home—the directors, Josiah Allen and Indianna Bell, masterfully crank up the claustrophobia. Every creak of the floorboard and flicker of the emergency light becomes a potential threat. 

The strength of the film lies in its two lead performances. Rock delivers a nuanced portrayal of Patrick, a man shrouded in a past he desperately wants to outrun. His quiet desperation and flashes of hidden intensity are riveting. Cowan is equally impressive as the Visitor. Her wide eyes and trembling voice initially evoke sympathy, but hints of a steely resolve simmer beneath the surface. Their on-screen dynamic is electric—a constant push and pull of suspicion and forced camaraderie.

The dialogue is sharp and economical, each word dripping with unspoken meaning. Long, uncomfortable silences speak volumes about the unspoken dread that hangs heavy in the air. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to simmer before delivering well-placed bursts of violence. The editing is tight, with jump cuts mirroring the characters’ increasingly fractured mental states.

Where you might feel like You’ll Never Find Me falters slightly is in its ending. While ambiguous conclusions can be powerful, here it feels a touch unsatisfying. A final reveal, however cryptic, could have added an extra layer of complexity. The most potent aspect of the ending of the movie was when the title of the film appeared starkly on the screen.

Despite this possible minor quibble, You’ll Never Find Me is a suspenseful and thought-provoking film. It’s a slow burn, but if you are patient, it will reward you with a masterclass in atmosphere and unsettling character dynamics. If you’re looking for a film that will keep you guessing long after the credits roll, then this is one you won’t want to miss.

(In cinemas — check your local movie guide for show times.)