By Romey Norton - November 15, 2024
Witching Season Films and director James Morris brings a chilling horror to your screens with He Never Left. Starring Colin Cunningham, Jessica Staples, and Charla Bocchicchio, this psychological thriller feels like two story ideas trying to merge, making the film feel busy and messy. However, the superb acting makes this film well worth watching.
The film follows Gabriel (Cunningham) an easily frustrated man trying to get his life together, but ends up hiding in a motel with his girlfriend after he accidentally kills someone. While there’s a state-wide hunt for Gabriel, he and Carly inadvertently become targets of the notorious Pale Face killer. After hearing strange noises in the next room Gabriel makes the connection between the local legend and the room motel they’re hiding in. With Gabriel's mental health declining, will he fall victim to Pale Face or the state?
I love the chilling opening shot, which is a written statement about the Pale Face killer, and from the sentences, the words ‘he never left’ are left on screen while the rest of the words fade away. Stunning - instantly gripping. The film then quickly cuts to a brutal murder, and then we follow the long and windy autumn roads of a lovely but lonely area. The colours are bright and bold, and with the orchestral music, you know you’re in for a twisted horror tale.
The acting is intense, with some powerful monologues from Cunningham, who gives a compelling performance. He delivers his character with a punch - he’s raw, with a fierce temper. So much so, that I felt worried about Pale Face coming near him. Watching the character slowly break down mentally drives the film and is one of the main reasons to keep watching.
The film is set predominately in one location, a bedroom, and is one of the more interesting choices in He Never Left. This helps the audience feel trapped like Gabriel, as we watch his character slowly succumb to his fears.
He Never Left’s story and plot are laid out, but not all the pieces fall into place as they should. The film takes a little while to introduce Pale Face and I expected more tension when they did. Pale Face has menial screentime, even though he is the most intriguing part. The film adds two detective characters who are hunting Gabriel, and whilst their chemistry is fun, I’d have preferred a cat-and-mouse chase between Gabriel and Pale Face. This would have been a more linear and structured format, making the film less busy. Annoyingly, Pale Face and Gabe’s plots become weak and lead to a flat ending. It appears that no one could quite decide on how to end the film so they’ve left it open for a prequel or sequel.
In the final 30 minutes, Gabriel learns the true identity of Pale Face and that they're not alone, having accomplices we've been watching throughout the film. This twist does not land effectively, due to not being handled well.
Audiences wanting a gory slasher film might be let down, as the film opts for a psychological thriller aspect, (think the original Halloween). But there is blood and believable effects. The deaths are dramatic but not memorable - I thought the film would build and push the boat out to shock and stun the audience.
Overall, He Never Left offers its audience a psychological thriller about a man in turmoil as he’s a murderer running away from the police and the threat of a local serial killer. This tension and dilemma are strong enough to captivate audiences for the one-hour and thirty-minute runtime. Audiences might feel let down if they wanted more action, slasher-style deaths, and Pale Face from this horror.
He Never Left is available now on digital platforms
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